Game 141 notes: Yankees win 3-2

Alex Rodriguez once again powered the Yankees to victory. The Yankees' third baseman went 3-4 with a home run in their 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals Friday night.

Jorge Posasda also homered for New York.

Ian Kennedy made his second career start tonight. He gave up seven hits, two runs and three walks over five innings.

Kyle Farnsworth (2-1) received the win after pitching a (gasp!) 1-2-3 inning. He struck out two batters in the process.

Some notes from the game:

• Rodriguez's homer was his 49th of the season. That is the most home runs hit by a Yankee in a season since 1961 when Roger Maris hit 61 and Mickey Mantle hit 54.
• Joba Chamberlain pitched two innings of relief. He gave up two hits and struck out a batter. As a reliever, he has struck out 18 batters and has given up only seven hits in 14 1-3 innings.
• Mariano Rivera got his 24th save of the season after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The Yankees are 79-62 with this victory. Detroit beat Seattle tonight. The Yankees are three games ahead of Detroit and four games ahead of Seattle in the Wild Card. Seattle has now lost 12 of their last 13 games.

The Yankees are 6.5 games behind Boston in the AL East.

Andy Pettitte will face Brian Bannister tomorrow night.

(AP Photo/Ed Zurga)