TORONTO, 28 April 2005 — Alex Rodriguez smashed three home runs to drive in a career-high 10 runs as the New York Yankees crushed the Los Angeles Angels 12-4 in American League play at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.

In an explosive night in the Bronx, Rodriguez belted a grand slam, a three-run shot and a two run blast to go with a run-scoring single, his 10 RBIs being the second most in Yankee history and one shy of the AL record.

St. Louis Cardinals Jim Bottomley (1924) and Mark Whitten (1993) share the major league record of 12 in a single game.

It was the third time in his career Rodriguez had smacked three homers in a single game.

All three of Rodriguez’s homers came off Angels starter Bartolo Colon (3-2) in the first four innings.

His first came with two-out in the first and gave New York a 3-0 lead.

The second came in the third, also with two out, followed by Rodriguez’s 11th career grand slam in the fourth when he took Colon’s 3-2 offering over the fence in deep center.

To cap off a 4-for-5 night at the plate, Rodriguez added his single in the sixth.

In Toronto, Alex Rios had two-run single to key a six-run sixth inning as the Blue Jays rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-5, snapping out of a five game losing skid.

A day after the Blue Jays fired hitting coach Mike Barnett in a move to spark some offense, Toronto bats finally came to life in the sixth.

In Arlington, Adrian Beltre cracked a two-run homer and Richie Sexson had three hits and scored three runs as the Seattle Mariners eased past the Texas Rangers 7-4.

Mariners starter Joel Pineiro (2-1) allowed four solo home runs but only two other hits over 7 1/3 innings of work to collect the win.

Eddie Guardado worked a perfect ninth to record his sixth save of the season.

In Boston, Miguel Tejada and Javy Lopez both cracked eighth inning two-run homers to power the Baltimore Orioles to an 11-8 decision over the Red Sox, their fifth straight win.

It was another impressive display at the plate for the hard-hitting Orioles, who pounded out 20 hits in erasing a five-run deficit with four-run assaults in the fifth and eighth innings.

In Kansas City, Johan Santana tossed eight sparkling innings to lead the Minnesota Twins past the Royals 2-1, his 17th consecutive win. The American League Cy Young award winner allowed just one run on five hits to get his fourth decision of the season and move just three wins shy of Roger Clemens record set from June 3 1998 to June 1 1999.

In Oakland, pinch-hitter Erubiel Durazo singled home the winning run in the eight inning, lifting the Athletics to a 9-7 win over the Chicago White Sox. The scheduled game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians was rained out.

Smoltz Overcomes Martinez as Braves Edge Mets

John Smoltz outdueled Pedro Martinez and Johnny Estrada drove in three runs as the Atlanta Braves held on to edge the New York Mets 4-3 in National League play at Shea Stadium on Tuesday. Smoltz (1-3) picked up his first victory of the season in the battle of Cy Young winners, allowing just one run on seven hits, striking out four and walking three in 6 2/3 solid innings of work. It was Smoltz’s first win as a starter since June 3, 2001, having spent the last four season in the Atlanta bullpen where he became one of the league’s top closers.

In Washington, Brad Wilkerson and Nick Johnson both hit home runs and John Patterson threw 6 2/3 solid innings to lead the Nationals to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Patterson (2-1) surrendered one run on six hits, struck out six and walked four to get the victory.

In St. Louis, Albert Pujols had a pair of two-run doubles and Jeff Suppan pitched six gritty innings to earn the Cardinals a 5-3 decision over the Milwaukee Brewers and their fifth straight win. Pujols’ doubles were his fifth and sixth of the season and he has reached base in every game this season.

In Chicago, Ken Griffey Jr drove in four runs and Adam Dunn belted a two-run homer as the Cincinnati Reds won an 11-9 slugfest over the Cubs. Eric Milton was hammered by the Cubs, who tagged the Reds starter for four home runs, including two-run blasts from Jeromy Burnitz, Aramis Ramirez and Jason Dubois.

In Los Angeles, Shawn Green and Luis Terrero both homered and Russ Ortiz pitched six strong innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks edged the Dodgers 3-2 for their fifth straight win.

In Denver, Juan Pierre cracked his first homer of the season and Josh Beckett tossed six solid inning to power the Florida Marlins to a 9-3 decision over the Colorado Rockies.

In San Francisco, J.T. Snow had four hits and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to lift the Giants to a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres. Armando Benitez (1-1) earned the win for two innings of relief, despite giving up a two run homer to Phil Nevin in the top of the eighth allowing the Padres to tie the game.