ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - Alex Rodriguez launched two home runs to lift the New York Yankees out of their funk with a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
"(It was) desperation. We needed to win, we hadn't won in a while, and hopefully this is the start of something good," Rodriguez told reporters.
The losing stretch had provoked some controversy with slumping catcher Jorge Posada asking to be left out of the line-up Saturday when he was dropped in the batting order.
Posada added two hits Tuesday to help the Yankees (21-19) turn the corner and move within two games of the American League East-leading Rays (24-18).
"It feels good to be back in the lineup and to be able to produce," Posada said. "It was a matter of getting a good performance from (starting pitcher Ivan Nova) and going to work."
Nova recorded the win after tossing 5 1/3 innings and allowing one run. New York scored two runs in the seventh and two in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
Brett Gardner went 3-for-4 and had an RBI in the ninth, when New York Captain Derek Jeter had an RBI single.
Tampa Bay's James Shields struck out nine batters but allowed four runs in seven innings to fall to 4-2 for the season.
Elliot Johnson hit a home run in the third to give the Rays the early lead. The home team also loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but reliever David Robertson came on to pitch the Yankees out of the jam.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, editing by Nick Mulvenney)
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