A-Rod’s tiebreaking homer lifts Andy Pettitte, Yankees to 4-2 victory over Seattle

A-Rod’s homer lifts Pettitte, Yankees over Seattle

NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer, Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings and the New York Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Wednesday night for their seventh consecutive victory.

Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera also went deep for the Yankees on a blustery night in the Bronx. New York overcame Ken Griffey Jr.’s 621st home run, winning its 10th straight home game against Seattle since Sept. 4, 2007.

Mariano Rivera saved his third game in a row, increasing his career total to 502.

Pettitte (8-3) rebounded from a brief outing in Atlanta, outpitching fellow lefty Jarrod Washburn in a game that took just 2 hours, 17 minutes. The Yankees (45-32) are a season-high 13 games over .500.

Cabrera’s solo shot in the fifth was upheld by a replay review. There was no doubt about Rodriguez’s two-run drive to center off Washburn (4-6) in the sixth, No. 566 of his career. He is three behind Rafael Palmeiro for 10th place.

The three-time MVP also hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s 8-5 victory over the Mariners. Rodriguez is 10 for 23 with four homers in the past seven games.

Pettitte shut down major league batting leader Ichiro Suzuki, who went 0 for 4, ending a 12-game hitting streak. Batting second behind Suzuki, Russell Branyan struck out all four times up — snapping his career-best hitting streak at 10 games.

Alfredo Aceves and Phil Coke combined for a perfect eighth. Rivera worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 20th save in 21 chances this season.

It was the 60th time Rivera has saved a win for Pettitte, adding to their big league record.

The Yankees will go for their second consecutive sweep Thursday night with CC Sabathia on the mound. Seattle had won eight of its past nine series.

Cabrera hit a drive over the left-field foul pole in the fifth and umpires went inside for a look at the replay. Less than 3 minutes later, they emerged and upheld the original call of home run, giving New York a 2-1 edge.

Griffey tied it in the sixth with a homer to the short porch in right. As he rounded the bases, he received a smattering of applause from the crowd of 45,285.

With his first homer at the new Yankee Stadium, Griffey has connected in 44 major league ballparks — one shy of Sammy Sosa’s record.

The Yankees put seven right-handed hitters in the lineup against Washburn, who was holding lefties to a .162 batting average coming into the game. But it was Damon who connected in the third for his 15th homer of the season — the third Washburn has allowed to a lefty.

Seattle tied it at 1 in the fourth when Jose Lopez led off with a double and scored on Wladimir Balentien’s fielder’s choice grounder. Balentien was quickly picked off first base by Pettitte.

NOTES: Mariners LHP Erik Bedard, sidelined since June 8 with inflammation in his left shoulder, is slated to throw a 60-pitch simulated game Friday in Boston. If all goes well, Bedard will start Tuesday against Baltimore with a pitch limit of about 80, manager Don Wakamatsu said. … Rodriguez was the DH, with Cody Ransom starting at 3B for the Yankees. … It was the fifth anniversary of SS Derek Jeter’s memorable catch against Boston, when he hurtled headfirst into the stands at the old Yankee Stadium. … Jeter was hit on the right foot by a fifth-inning pitch from Washburn but stayed in the game. … Griffey chatted with Yankees special adviser Reggie Jackson next to the cage during batting practice. … The Yankees improved to 10-3 against AL West teams and 14-7 against left-handed starters.