NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- Alex Rodriguez broke a tie with a two-run home run in the eighth inning Thursday, helping the New York Yankees to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Seattle tied the score with two runs in the top of the inning before Rodriguez connected for his 12th home run of the season and 595th of his career, tagging Mariners reliever David Aardsma (0-5) with the loss.
CC Sabathia (10-3) gave up five hits and the two Seattle runs in pitching eight innings and came away the winner. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth and earned his 18th save.
Mark Teixeira singled in a run in the first and Robinson Cano added a home run in the fourth off Seattle starter Ryan Rowland-Smith to put the Yankees up 2-0.
Rowland-Smith lasted sixth innings, giving up two runs on five hits. The Mariners tied the score in the eighth with a two-run single by Russell Branyan.
Aardsma was brought in the bottom of the eighth and got an out but Teixeira singled and Rodriguez followed with an opposite-field home run.
