Cano wins game in a pinch

By ASSOCIATED PRES

Last update: April 15, 2008 - 12:16 AM

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - Robinson Cano's pinch-hit home run broke an eighth-inning tie, and Alex Rodriguez hit career homer No. 521 to match Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Willie McCovey on the career list during the New York Yankees' 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.

With shortstop Derek Jeter back in the lineup, Yankees starter Ian Kennedy cruised into the seventh inning with a 7-2 lead before he was hit on the right hip by Jason Bartlett's line drive.

The infield single knocked a hobbling Kennedy out of the game, and Tampa Bay hit three quick homers off New York's bullpen before the inning was over to tie the score at 7-7.

Carl Crawford hit a two-run homer off lefthander Billy Traber. B.J. Upton added a two-run drive off winner Brian Bruney, then rookie Evan Longoria connected against Bruney for his first major league home run.

But Cano, who entered hitting .170 and was rested by manager Joe Girardi, came off the bench to put the Yankees back in front with a long homer to right off Al Reyes.

Rodriguez connected in the first inning against Andy Sonnanstine and finished with four hits. A-Rod tied Williams and McCovey for 15th place on the career home run list.

The homer also was A-Rod's 176th with the Yankees, moving him past Bobby Murcer for 19th on the franchise list. The slugger, who went 4-for-5, also scored his 500th run with New York on the homer.

Johnny Damon and Morgan Ensberg also homered for the Yankees, who scored more than six runs for the first time this season.

Jeter returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games because of a strained left quadriceps and went 2-for-5 with two RBI.