A-Rod homers twice in one inning as Yankees pound Mariners

Only a few hours after undergoing an MRI on his sprained right ankle, Alex Rodriguez ripped two home runs in one inning as the Yankees exploded for eight runs in the seventh to rout the Seattle Mariners, 10-2, in the rubber match of a crucial three-game set.

The win strengthened New York's hold on the AL wild card lead to three games over the Mariners, and moved the Yankees to within six games of the Red Sox in the AL East. Boston lost to the Blue Jays, 6-4, on Wednesday night.

Rodriguez was scratched from his original starting position of third base and stayed in the lineup as the designated hitter because of lingering pain in his right ankle, which he hurt sliding into third in Tuesday's win. He took an MRI on the ankle before the game, which showed a sprain, an injury that apparently had little affect on his swing as he upped his total to a major league-best 48 homers.

Phil Hughes pitched six strong innings, holding the Mariners to two runs on five hits with six strikeouts, and Joba Chamberlain (1-0) earned his first career win for pitching a perfect seventh for the Yankees, who won the last two of the series by a combined score of 22-5 after dropping the opener 7-1.

Jarrod Washburn (9-13) saw his good night go to waste, as he departed after six-plus innings. His final line was three runs -- two earned -- on three hits, though, and five Seattle relievers in the seventh combined to turn a close game into a rout. Raul Ibanez homered for the Mariners, who stemmed their nine-game losing streak on Monday, but have now dropped 11 of 12.

The game was lining up to be a taught pitchers' duel before the Yankees exploded for eight runs in the seventh. Rodriguez led off by blasting a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left, tying the game at 2-2. Jose Lopez then misplayed Robinson Cano's grounder, prompting Mariners manager John McLaren to go to the bullpen. Shelley Duncan laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner up, but reliever George Sherrill issued free passes to Jason Giambi and Wilson Betemit, loading the bases with one out.

Sean Green came on for Seattle to face pinch-hitter Jorge Posada, who worked a walk, forcing in the go-ahead run. Eric O'Flaherty then took the mound, getting Johnny Damon on a fielder's choice, but another run crossed the plate. Melky Cabrera then singled in another run, chasing O'Flaherty in favor of Brandon Morrow. Derek Jeter greeted Morrow with a double to right-center, plating two runs, and the Yankees led 7-2. Rodriguez followed by blasting his second long ball of the inning, this one a two-run shot to left, handing the Bronx Bombers a seven-run cushion.

"I definitely couldn't play the field," said Rodriguez of his ankle. "Hopefully over the next few days it gets a little better."

Cano then walked, bringing on Rick White, the sixth Mariners pitcher of the inning, who got Duncan to ground out to third, finally ending the inning.

New York added a run in the eighth when Bobby Abreu led off with a double to right-center, and later scored on a John Parrish wild pitch.

"Washburn was throwing a great game," said McLaren. "It was a big game for us and we didn't get it done."