Josh Phelps started the comeback with his first homer since May 27, 2005, for Tampa Bay against Seattle.

Jorge Posada singled on a 2-2 pitch, Johnny Damon walked with a full count, and Jeter slapped an RBI single to left. Bobby Abreu, down 1-2 in the count, poked an opposite-field run-scoring single to left for his fourth hit.

That brought up A-Rod, who hit a game-ending grand slam against Baltimore with two outs in the ninth for a 10-7 victory on April 7. Borowski started him with a wild pitch in the dirt, and Rodriguez deposited his next offering into the Yankees bullpen, extending his hitting streak to 19 games dating to last season.

Borowski said the Indians decided not to walk Rodriguez with first base open after the wild pitch because Jason Giambi was in the on-deck circle. Giambi had homered for the second consecutive game earlier.

“The at-bat got a little more confusing with the wild pitch,” Rodriguez said. “We really didn’t know what was going to happen but I was in the moment, just wanted to hit a ball hard somewhere.”

Victor Martinez hit a three-run homer, and David Dellucci homered and drove in two runs for the Indians, who were swept in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium for the first time since July 2002. Travis Hafner had three hits and went 8-for-12 in the series.

“It’s a tough loss, obviously,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “You get two outs and the four-run lead and they keep stringing hits together. They are swinging good right now.”

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

Rodriguez’s hit cost Fausto Carmona what would have been his first victory since he beat Detroit in his major league debut on April 15, 2006. Carmona allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.

Notes: Indians LHP Cliff Lee (strained right abdominal muscle) is scheduled to throw 70 pitches in a rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. ... The Indians stranded 10 runners and have left 48 on in their past six games. ... Yankees RHP Humberto Sanchez had elbow ligament replacement surgery Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Cuban ‘not on prowl’ for Dodgers, or any team Sosa’s skin undergoing color change Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay Damon, Matsui and Pettitte all could return Yankees’ Jeter, Teixeira win Gold Gloves Scully to broadcast in 2010, then decide future Baseball GMs pass on expanding instant replay Martin, Herzog, Murtaugh and Mauch on Hall ballot Free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: