Rodriguez Ends Slump for Yankees

Alex Rodriguez broke out of a one-for-24 slump with three hits, including his 27th home run, backing Randy Johnson and leading the New York Yankees over the Detroit Tigers, 6-4, on Thursday.

Rodriguez connected leading off the seventh inning and received a curtain call from Yankees fans, who have booed him for much of the season. Robinson Cano followed with a double and scored on a single by Bernie Williams, who had two runs batted in.

Before Rodriguez homered, Detroit Manager Jim Leyland was ejected by plate umpire James Hoye for complaining about balls and strikes. It was his second ejection this season.

After he was ejected, Leyland came on the field, stopped arguing during the singing of “God Bless America,” and then resumed the argument, with crew chief Larry Young separating him from Hoye.

New York’s Bobby Abreu hit a two-out, two-run single that broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning. Johnson gave up four hits in 8 1/3 innings, but three of them were homers. Mariano Rivera earned his 33rd save in 36 chances.