Alex Rodriguez passes Gehrig on all-time RBI list, Yankees sweep Royals

Alex Rodriguez passes Gehrig on all-time RBI list, Yankees sweep Royals

Alex Rodriguez passes Lou Gehrig for sole possession of fourth place
 on the all-time RBI list.(Photo: Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK -- The only thing Yankees manager Joe Girardi focused on in regards to pitcher Michael Pineda being successful before Wednesday’s game against Kansas City Royals was that the right-hander’s slider had to be on.

“When I look at the last two starts, (Pineda) really hasn’t had a very good (slider), and that’s a key pitch for him,” he said. “I think it’s important to get that back.”

In the top of the first inning, Royals first baseman Mike Moustakas crushed a poorly-thrown slider into the second deck of right field that tailed foul. The next pitch, Moustakas sent another weak slider into the bleachers for a solo home run.

That was the end of Pineda’s struggles for the day — with his slider, or any other pitch.

The right-hander fanned eight batters, including Moustakas twice, and walked one across 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 win at Yankee Stadium to complete a three-game sweep of the reigning American League champions.

Chase Headley showed off his gold-glove caliber defense with two spectacular plays at third base to get Pineda out of a hard-hit first inning, but Pineda cruised from there. Pineda gained confidence and a feel for his pitches — particularly his slider — as the game wore on. Pineda got his final four strikeouts with his slider.

Alex Rodriguez delivered the game-winning blow in the form of a three-run home run to left field in the third inning. Rodriguez, now with 1,995 RBI, passed Lou Gehrig and moved to within one of Barry Bonds (1,996 career RBI) for third place on the all-time list. He's the all-time American League leader. Hank Aaron (2,297) and Babe Ruth (2,213) rank No. 1 and 2, respectively.

RBI became an official statistic in 1920. Due to discrepancies in record keep prior to 1920, overall totals have varied.

Rodriguez, who also hit his 665th career home run, moved to within 19 hits of 3,000 for his career.

Kansas City scored a run in the top of the eighth after shortstop Didi Gregorius’ backhand throw to first went astray. Gregorius was positioned near second base for a shift.

The run, allowed by setup man Dellin Betances, was ruled unearned by the Yankees’ official scorekeeper, extending Betances’ streak of consecutive innings without an earned run this season to 26. Andrew Miller pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 14th save of the season.

USAToday