A-Rod Speaks Up While Running Bases And Blue Jays Call Foul

Whatever Alex Rodriguez said, it sure didn't go over well with the Blue Jays. It did, however, help the New York Yankees snap a five-game losing streak. <br/><br/>Rodriguez distracted Toronto third

Thursday, May 31st 2007, 7:44 am

By: News On 6

Whatever Alex Rodriguez said, it sure didn't go over well with the Blue Jays. It did, however, help the New York Yankees snap a five-game losing streak.

Rodriguez distracted Toronto third baseman Howie Clark by shouting at him on a key popup in the ninth inning, touching off arguments all over the field, and the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 10-5 Wednesday night.

``I just said, 'Hah!' That's it,'' Rodriguez said. ``Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.''

``I don't know what my intention was,'' he said. ``I didn't say, 'I got it' or anything like that.''

Clark claimed Rodriguez called for the ball.

``I heard a 'Mine' call and so I let it go,'' Clark said. ``What do you do? It makes you mad.''

In other AL games it was, Minnesota 7, Chicago 6; Oakland 6, Texas 1; Cleveland 8, Boston 4; Tampa Bay 5, Detroit 3; Baltimore 3, Kansas City 0; and Los Angeles 8, Seattle 6.

At Toronto, Rodriguez hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth that made it 7-5. Jorge Posada followed with a high infield pop and Rodriguez ran hard, cutting between Clark and shortstop John McDonald.

Replays showed Rodriguez shouting something, and Clark backed off at the last second. McDonald was only a few steps behind Clark, but couldn't make the catch and ball dropped for an RBI single.

After the play, McDonald started jawing with Rodriguez, and third base umpire Chad Fairchild got between them.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons came out to argue, and exchanged words with Rodriguez and third base coach Larry Bowa before leaving the field as plate umpire Eric Cooper intervened. Rodriguez stayed on the bag with a smirk.

``The thing about the Yankees, one of the reasons they're so respected, is they do things right. Always have,'' Gibbons said. ``They've got a lot of pride and a lot of class. They play the game hard.

``That's not Yankee pride right there. That's not the way they play. I thought it was bush league.''

Clark said he'd never seen _ or heard _ that play before. ``This is my 16th season and it's never happened once,'' he said.

As Jason Giambi stepped up to hit after the popup, he seemed to get into it with catcher Jason Phillips and Cooper settled them down.

Giambi followed with a two-run single. When the game ended, many of the Blue Jays stayed on the bench, staring at Rodriguez and the Yankees.

Rodriguez brushed aside the Blue Jays' anger, saying the Yankees were ``desperate'' for a win.

``Honestly, I couldn't care less,'' he said. ``They have their opinions. We're looking not to be swept.''

Rodriguez said he's often heckled by opposing players.

``That play happens to me three or four times a week, except it's not at third base, it's over in foul territory by the dugout,'' Rodriguez said.

The Yankees didn't quite know what to think.

``I wasn't sure that was allowed,'' outfielder Johnny Damon said. ``If it is, maybe we'll keep on doing it.''

Said manager Joe Torre: ``I don't know what to feel for it. It's not like he said, 'I got it.'''

New York took a quick lead against rookie Jesse Litsch (1-2), scoring five times in the first inning.

Yankees rookie Tyler Clippard (2-1) gave up three runs and four hits over five innings.

Twins 7, White Sox 6

At Minneapolis, Torii Hunter walked with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, forcing in the winning run and lifting the Twins over the struggling White Sox for a three-game sweep.

The Twins handed the White Sox their fourth straight loss and moved past Chicago into third place in the AL Central.

Mike MacDougal (1-2) took the loss when walked Hunter on four pitches.

Joe Nathan (2-1) entered in the ninth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning.

Athletics 6, Rangers 1

Dan Haren won his sixth straight decision and Dan Johnson drove in three runs for host Oakland.

Haren (6-2) lowered his ERA to an AL-leading 1.64. He gave up four hits in eight innings.

Sammy Sosa went 0-for-4 and remained two home runs from becoming the fifth player to reach the 600 mark.

Texas called up John Koronka (0-2) from Triple-A Oklahoma to make the start.

Devil Rays 5, Tigers 3

James Shields settled after a shaky first inning to throw the second complete game of his career, Elijah Dukes and Brendan Harris backed the right-hander with solo homers for host Tampa Bay.

Shields (4-0) yielded three runs and five hits in the opening inning, then allowed just three runners to reach base over the next eight innings. He earned his first win in nearly four weeks.

Dukes hit his 10th homer of the season in the fifth and Harris snapped a 3-3 tie against left-hander Nate Robertson (4-5) in the sixth.

Indians 8, Red Sox 4

Paul Byrd won his fifth straight decision and extended his streak without issuing a walk to 43 innings, and visiting Cleveland rallied for the win.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Boston (36-16), which has the best record in the majors. Cleveland (32-19), with the AL's second best record, avoided being swept in the three-game series.

Boston led 2-0 after four innings, but Cleveland tied the game in the fifth and went ahead 6-2 in the sixth against Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-3).

Byrd (6-1) has gone six games since his last walk.

Royals 3, Orioles 0

Erik Bedard won a matchup of staff aces with Gil Meche and Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer, leading visiting Baltimore to its fifth straight victory.

Bedard (4-3) went a season-long eight innings and gave up only four hits, with five strikeouts and two walks. Chris Ray pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

Meche (3-4) allowed one run in 7 1-3 innings as Kansas City lost its seventh straight.

Angels 8, Mariners 6

At Anaheim, Calif., Vladimir Guerrero hit a three-run homer off Felix Hernandez (3-3) and the Angels' bullpen preserved the lead in a win over Seattle.

Dustin Moseley (4-0) got the win in relief of starter Jered Weaver, who was pulled after 4 2-3 innings. Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for his 18th save in 19 chances.

Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 23 games _ tying his career best in 2001.