Rodriguez gives Yankees a lift

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Alex Rodriguez looked more like himself in his return to Texas.

The slumping two-time AL MVP had two hits, scored the go-ahead run, and was error-free in the field in the New York Yankees' 6-2 victory over the Rangers last night.

``He had good at-bats, he hit good pitches. He had a good night," manager Joe Torre said. ``Now the key is just to put something together. And it doesn't have to be hits. The quality of the at-bats is something he's looking to have right now."

Lustily booed by the fans of his former team -- the one that gave him the record $252 million contract -- Rodriguez snapped an 0-for-11 streak with a single in the fourth and then scored the go-ahead run.

``I liked the seventh better," Rodriguez said, referring to his run-scoring double. ``I've been feeling better. I was swinging a little too hard in Toronto, trying to do too much. It was nice to contribute to a win."

Rodriguez finished 2 for 5. He has only six hits in his past 32 at-bats, and Saturday he struck out four times in a game for the first time since 1995.

Randy Johnson (11-8) struck out seven to win the matchup of the last two pitchers to throw no-hitters. Like Kevin Millwood (10-6), Johnson pitched only six innings.

Johnson threw 101 pitches, surrendering two runs and seven hits with two walks. The 42-year-old threw 129 pitches in his most recent start, Wednesday in a loss to Seattle when he struck out a season-high 11.

``Tonight was the residual of that game. My slider wasn't as effective," Johnson said. ``I gave up too many hits. It's a game I'm glad is over. Getting through today was the biggest thing."

There have been more than 5,700 major league games since Johnson's perfect game for Arizona against Atlanta May 18, 2004. Millwood threw his no-hitter for Philadelphia against San Francisco April 27, 2003.

Millwood gave up five runs, two earned. He struck out two and walked two.

``I'm not very satisfied," Millwood said. ``I felt like there were some opportunities if I made one pitch, I get out of the inning."

Rodriguez, the converted Gold Glove shortstop who had five errors in a five-game stretch at third base last week, cleanly fielded the three balls hit his way by the Rangers -- two of them infield singles.

``He looked very comfortable," Torre said. ``Maybe it's just being familiar in this ballpark."

Rodriguez played in Texas from 2001-03.

Buck Showalter missed his second consecutive game, a precaution advised by a team doctor after the Texas manager sat out a game in Chicago and spent a night in the hospital for dehydration. Showalter had said two hours before the game that he planned to be on the bench.

Melky Cabrera, moved from eighth to leadoff in the Yankees' batting order after Johnny Damon was scratched because of a sore back, went 3 for 4 with a triple, double, two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base.

``Put him in the spotlight and he seems to really enjoy being the guy you can count on," Torre said.

Derek Jeter had an RBI triple and a double, and Aaron Guiel hit his fifth homer for the Yankees, who had lost four of their previous five games.