Yankees Stop Their Three-Game Skid

The New York Yankees ended their slump despite the ongoing struggles of Alex Rodriguez.

Bernie Williams homered, Derek Jeter drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk and the Yankees stopped a three-game losing streak Saturday with a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Rodriguez was the Yankees’ designated hitter after committing five errors in five games -- and this time his woes were at the plate. He went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts, including one with the bases loaded in the sixth. Rodriguez struck out four times in a game for the first time since June 22, 1995, against the Chicago White Sox.

“It was just one of those days. It makes your head spin a little bit, but you put it behind you,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez was forced to play the field in the ninth and caught a popup for the final out.

He was at the ballpark an hour before the team bus left the hotel to work on his throwing. Eleven of his American League-leading 18 errors have been on throws.

“I thought for me the biggest thing of the day was my work,” Rodriguez said. “That’s what I take out of the day. I’m glad we did it. I’ve been feeling great at the plate so I’m not really concerned about what I’m doing in the box. I know I’m going to hit.”

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ROUNDUP

at Seattle 5, Boston 2: Alex Gonzalez plunked a throw off the back of Eduardo Perez for a tiebreaking, two-base error and the decisive run in the Mariners’ victory. Felix Hernandez’s seven strong innings gave Seattle its second win in seven games. Boston’s five-game winning streak ended.

Texas 3, at Chicago 1: Michael Young hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the ninth to lift the Rangers to victory. White Sox closer Bobby Jenks (2-2) gave up Kevin Mench’s leadoff single in the ninth. Two outs later, Gary Matthews Jr. was intentionally walked, then Jenks walked Ian Kinsler to load the bases. Young followed with a single to the opposite field, scoring pinch-runner Jerry Hairston Jr. and Matthews. The White Sox are 1-7 since the All-Star break.

Oakland 9, at Detroit 5: The Detroit Tigers gave Zach Miner a five-run lead in the first, Mark Kotsay’s three-run homer the next inning helped Oakland erase the deficit and the Athletics added four runs later in the victory. The A’s can win their third consecutive series on the road with a victory today.

at Cleveland 11, Minnesota 0: Rookie Jeremy Sowers limited the Twins to four hits and the Indians ended Minnesota’s eight-game winning streak. Sowers (2-3) baffled a club that had accumulated 11 or more hits in every game during its winning streak. He became the first Indians rookie to pitch a shutout since Billy Traber had a one-hitter against the New York Yankees on July 8, 2003.

at Tampa Bay 13, Baltimore 12: Julio Lugo homered twice during a 10-run fifth inning, helping the Devil Rays build a seven-run cushion that grew to 10 before a leaky bullpen allowed the Orioles to rally for nine runs in the seventh to make it close.