NEW YORK, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Alex Rodriguez, having undergone an MRI earlier in the day, hit two home runs Wednesday as the New York Yankees powered past Seattle 10-2.
Both of the homers came in an eight-run seventh inning. The Yankees boosted their lead over Seattle in the wild card race to three games.
Rodriguez served as the designated hitter Wednesday because of pain he still is suffering after sliding into third base during Tuesday's win over Seattle. The MRI showed only a sprain.
He raised his home run total to 48 and helped Joba Chamberlain (1-0) record the first win of his major league career. Chamberlain worked an inning of relief after New York overcame a 2-1 deficit with its big seventh inning.
Jarrod Washburn (9-13) gave up only one run through six innings, but was charged with the first two runs in the seventh to take the loss. Seattle has dropped 11 out of 12.
Rodriguez accounted for the first run in the seventh with a shot off Washburn and then drove in the final two runs of the frame with a homer off Brandon Morrow, the fifth pitcher of the inning.
