MLB

A-Rod making dent with bat for Yankees

As the Yankees batted in the eighth inning yesterday, they lacked momentum and insurance.

The Rays had trimmed the Yankees’ four-run lead to one when Alex Rodriguez came up with Robinson Cano on second and one out.

The resurgent slugger came through with a clutch RBI single to center, and the Yankees held on from there, earning a 5-3 victory in The Bronx.

The $275 million superstar has provided a huge boost since returning from the disabled list.

Rodriguez missed 36 games with a broken left hand before returning Sept. 3. He has batted .298 (14-for-47) with three homers and nine RBIs since his return. He has reached base in all 12 games, racked up hits in 11 of the 12, posted RBIs in six and provided extra-base hits in five.

“I feel like [my swing’s] getting better each and every day,” Rodriguez said. “I think I had some good things going prior to my injury, and [hitting coach] Kevin Long and I have kind of picked up at the same place.”

BOX SCORE

Rodriguez also helped Rafael Soriano get through a stressful ninth inning. The closer put two on with two outs and threw a first-pitch ball to pinch-hitter Elliot Johnson. At that point, Rodriguez went to the mound and tried to settle Soriano down. Soriano struck out Johnson to end it.

“He knows what he’s doing out there,” Rodriguez said. “Just sometimes they need a little bit of a blow and slow the game down a little bit.”

The game seems to be slowing down for Rodriguez at the moment. If he stays hot, it could make the difference as the Yankees play critical games to hold onto a playoff berth.

“Every game is very, very important,” Rodriguez said.