Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player in major league history to hit 500 home runs as the New York Yankees beat Kansas City 16-8 on Saturday.
A-Rod connected on the first pitch he saw, sending a shot down the left-field line. After pausing at the plate to see if it was fair, he trotted around the bases with a grin on his face as the sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium cheered.
Rodriguez homered eight days after his 32nd birthday and surpassed Jimmie Foxx (32 years, 338 days) as the youngest player to reach 500. A-Rod is the 22nd player to reach the mark, the second this season behind Frank Thomas.
Rodriguez hugged teammates and blew a kiss toward the stands after completing his trip around the bases.
Robinson Cano tied a career high with four hits and Bobby Abreu scored four runs for New York, which has won five of its last six to improve to a season-best 10 games over .500. Mike Myers (3-0) got the last out of the fifth to earn the win.
Kyle Davies lasted just three innings in his first start for Kansas City, which acquired him from Atlanta on Tuesday. He gave up five runs and six hits in his first career appearance against the Yankees.
Red Sox 4, Mariners 3
In Seattle, Daisuke Matsuzaka continually wiggled out of trouble, Jason Varitek drove in two runs and Boston snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Mariners in Seattle.
Matsuzaka (13-8) pitched seven innings, matched his season-high with 10 strikeouts and allowed just a pair of solo home runs.
Blue Jays 9, Rangers 5
In Toronto, Frank Thomas hit two home runs to pass Eddie Murray for 20th place on the all-time home run list, and Toronto won a seventh straight game by downing Texas.
Thomas hit a three-run homer in the first and added a solo homer in the third, giving him 505 in his career. It was his second multihomer game of the season and the 31st of his career.
Athletics 2, Angels 1
In Oakland, pinch hitter Travis Buck hit a two-out, tie-breaking single in the seventh to give Oakland victory over Los Angeles.
Oakland starter Joe Blanton (9-8) ended a personal four-game losing streak.
Twins 3, Indians 2
In Minneapolis, Joe Nathan finished off five scoreless innings by the Minnesota bullpen as the Twins edged past Cleveland.
Michael Cuddyer drove in two runs and made a leaping catch in right field to help Minnesota beat Cleveland for only the third time in 10 games this season. The Twins moved within 5 1-2 games of the Indians, who began the day in first place in the American League Central.
Devil Rays 9, Orioles 2
In St Petersburg, Scott Kazmir won his third-straight home decision as Tampa Bay beat Baltimore.
Kazmir (8-7) has staged a big form turnaround at home. Prior to his last four starts, he had gone winless in 14 home starts dating back to July last year.
White Sox 7, Tigers 5
In Detroit, Jim Thome and A.J. Pierzynski each homered on Saturday and Chicago hung on to win its third straight by beating Detroit.
Chicago's Javier Vazquez (9-6) went seven innings and gave up three runs to take the win. Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth for his 31st save, and has now retired 29 straight batters.
Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer in the eighth, and Milwaukee came back from a four-run deficit to beat Philadelphia 6-5 on Saturday and remain in first place in the National League Central.
Corey Hart robbed Tadahito Iguchi of what could have been a game-tying homer in the ninth, and Milwaukee remained a game ahead of Chicago. Philadelphia (57-53) stayed five games behind the NL East-leading New York.
Milwaukee trailed 5-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning and 5-4 heading into the eighth.
But with one out, J.J. Hardy singled. Ryan Braun popped out, bringing up Fielder, who hit a Tom Gordon pitch (1-2) deep into the right-field seats, delighting the sellout crowd.
Cubs 6, Mets 2
Ryan Theriot's infield single with two outs started a six-run third inning that set up Chicago's 6-2 win over New York on Saturday.
Chicago starter Ted Lilly (12-5) pitched seven-and-two-third impressive innings, allowing two runs. He has won seven of his last eight starts.
Braves 6, Rockies 4
In Atlanta, Tim Hudson pitched seven scoreless innings and hitting a two-run single as Atlanta downed Colorado.
Hudson (12-5) made his 12th start following an Atlanta loss. The Braves are 10-2 in those games.
Nationals 12, Cardinals 1
In Washington, Ryan Zimmerman hit two home runs as Washington extended its winning streak to a season-best five games by cruising past St. Louis.
Reds 9, Pirates 8, 10 innings
In Pittsburgh, Adam Dunn's two-run homer in the 10th inning saw Cincinnati edge Pittsburgh in a battle between the worst two teams in the National League.
Pittsburgh closer Matt Caps (4-5) gave up the tying run on a solo homer to Jeff Keppinger.
Marlins 6, Astros 5, 12 innings
In Miami, Miguel Cabrera tied the game with a homer in the seventh, then scored the winning run in bizarre circumstances as Florida beat Houston in extra innings.
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