ARod, Teixeira hitting on all cylinders

Alex helps Yankees take second straight 2-1 decision

By Thomas Boorstein / MLB.com

ARod solo home run in the fourth inning tied the score at 1-1 on Sunday. (AP)

• ARod's ties the score with a solo shot »

NEW YORK -- Shaky pitching often overshadows offensive outbursts. But when Yankees starters have quality outings, a few timely hits can make all the difference.

In their series against the Angels leading up to the All-Star break, the Yankees scored 18 runs, but surrendered 29 and lost all three games. Against the Tigers this weekend, the Yankees scored nine, allowed five and won all three games.

"It just shows you that we've won all kinds of games," manager Joe Girardi said following Sunday's 2-1 win over Detroit. "That your bullpen is doing a nice job at the end of games and that your starters are giving you distance in shutting teams down. We're kind of getting used to playing these games."

"We lost three in a row, but we played well in Minnesota," Alex Rodriguez said. "Joe had a meeting after the [Angels] series and told us how proud he was of the team and that we had big things ahead of us in the second half."

Rodriguez's game-tying solo shot against the Tigers was his fifth home run in his past six games. The Yankees continue their 10-game homestand when they open a three-game series against Baltimore on Monday night.

"The last couple of days, we've just gotten big hits, big home runs," said Mark Teixeira, who hit a go-ahead solo homer in the sixth and also hit the deciding three-run blow in Friday's win. "Hopefully, Alex and I have a few more in us."

On the pitch before his homer, Teixeira took what he initially thought was ball four before home-plate umpire Jeff Nelson made a late strike call. He was glad he stuck around.

"When Alex is hot, teams don't want to put me on at all," Teixeira said. "That's why you're going to see my walks going down, and hopefully me getting a few more hits, a few more long balls."

After the sweep in Los Angeles leading into the All-Star break, many of the Yankees appeared relieved to be getting a few days off. Joba Chamberlain, Sunday's winner, said time back in Nebraska helped him pitch 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

"All-Star breaks are great," Teixeira said. "Doesn't matter if you're young or if you're a veteran. Maybe the younger guys need more of a mental break, the older guys more of a physical break. Any time you can get away, clear your mind, be a normal person for a few days, you come back, you're a little more focused."