Resurgent Yanks Top Pirates

Alex Rodriguez homered twice and drove in five runs, Bobby Abreu went 4–for–4 with three RBIs, and the Yankees overpowered the Pittsburgh Pirates 13–6 yesterday for their sixth consecutive victory.

Rodriguez and Abreu each scored four times and Hideki Matsui hit a two-run double, helping the resurgent Yankees set a season high for runs in winning for the ninth time in 11 games. It's their longest winning streak since they won six in a row last September.

One day after Roger Clemens's successful return, the Yankees completed a three-game sweep and sent the Pirates to their ninth defeat in 12 games. Pittsburgh also was swept at Yankee Stadium in an interleague series two years ago and hasn't won at the ballpark since Game 5 of the 1960 World Series.

Sean Henn (2–0) replaced ineffective rookie Tyler Clippard and worked two scoreless innings for the win. New York's much-maligned bullpen came through, with four relievers combining for 5 1-3 shutout innings.

On offense, the Yankees tagged former teammate Shawn Chacon (2–1).