A-Rod hits the ground swinging, if not running

Alex Rodriguez still can't run at 100 percent. But he hasn't forgotten how to trot. Or set records.

In his second game back after going on the disabled list with a strained left calf, Rodriguez hit a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in the Yankees' 4-3 loss to the Orioles at Yankee Stadium Monday.

The fourth-inning home run was impressive, traveling all the way to the back wall of the visiting bullpen in left-centerfield. It was Rodriguez's 22nd of the season and 605th of his career.

The sixth-inning sacrifice fly was historic. It gave A-Rod 100 RBIs; he reached the century mark for the 14th time, the most of any player in baseball history.

It's also his 13th consecutive season with at least 100 RBIs, tying him with Lou Gehrig (1926-38) and Jimmie Foxx (1929-41) for the most all-time.

"It's nice," he said. "It feels good. I mean, obviously, you try to come out and be consistent every year, and it's nice."

Said manager Joe Girardi: "It's an amazing number. Just shows you how consistent he's been, how healthy he's been in his career, to be able to do something like that. Came up at a very young age and was productive early on. Pretty amazing feat."

Rodriguez's first 100-RBI season came in 1996, when he had 123 for Seattle in his first full season in the majors. His only season with fewer than 100 RBIs after that was 1997, when he had 84 in 141 games. He reached 100 last year by hitting a three-run homer and a grand slam during a 10-run sixth inning against the Rays on the final day of the regular season.

As for the calf, Rodriguez said it felt "pretty good. Both days I've been feeling pretty good physically."

Rodriguez left the game for a pinch runner after walking with two outs in the eighth inning. Girardi said he didn't want A-Rod trying to go all-out on a ball in the gap, so he put in Eduardo Nuñez.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, there were no balls in the gap in the eighth or ninth innings, and they lost their second straight after winning eight in a row. They are 21-3 without A-Rod; in his return, he's 3-for-7 with a home run and three RBIs, so it can't be considered his fault that they haven't won.

"I feel that the more productive I am, that helps the team win," he said.

Rodriguez said he was happy with his swing after the long layoff (he missed 15 days and 14 games). He was asked if the home run off lefthander Brian Matusz or the walk off righthander Jim Johnson was a better indicator of where he is at the plate.

"I think both," he said. "That's a good question. When I see more pitches and I walk, I get deep into counts, I certainly get more dangerous as a hitter. So getting deep into counts is always a big key for me."

Hitting home runs is a key for him, too, and he is one of the best ever at it. But his injuries and a down power year may cost A-Rod a chance at his 13th consecutive season with at least 30 home runs. The Yankees have 24 games left in the regular season.

"I'm not at all concerned about that," he said. "Again, just be productive and help the team win."