Rodriguez hits 50th and 51st home runs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alex Rodriguez says his third 50-homer season is a lot more meaningful than the first two. This time around, he’s playing for a team in a pennant race.

Rodriguez got his 50th and 51st homers in consecutive at-bats against rookie Brian Bannister to set a single-season record for a third baseman, helping the New York Yankees overpower the Kansas City Royals, 11-5, Saturday.

“It’s special,” Rodriguez said. “When I did it in Texas it was a little different scenario. To be doing it and winning games in the middle of a pennant race means that much more.”

Rodriguez flied out to center in his second at-bat in the Yankees’ seven-run sixth and was hit by a pitch in the seventh before coming out for a pinch- runner. Rodriguez became the first Yankees player to reach 50 homers in a season since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle did it in 1961. Rodriguez joined Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as the only players to hit 50 homers in at least three seasons.

“The bad side of this thing is when he does it so often you’re surprised when he doesn’t do it,” Yankees Manager Joe Torre said.