Eric Hinske homered and Johnny Damon had four hits for the Yankees , who used a seven-run ninth inning to turn a tight game into a rout. New York has won six straight and is 34-11 since the All-Star break.

Rodriguez got his milestone hit in the fifth inning, a single off Jason Berken, and lined a two-run single up the middle in the seventh against Kim Mickolio (0-2) to break a 1-1 tie.

After Nolan Reimold hit a solo homer in the eighth to get Baltimore to 3-2, Rodriguez singled in two runs on an 0-2 pitch from Jim Johnson to spark a ninth-inning uprising in which Damon had two of New York's seven hits.

Sabathia (16-7) struck out nine, gave up seven hits and walked one. The left-hander is 6-0 in his last seven starts and has an AL-best eight wins since the All-Star break.

Phil Hughes got the last four outs for his second save.

Sabathia improved to 8-1 lifetime against Baltimore, 3-1 this year. The Yankees lead the season series 12-3 and have won 10 straight over the Orioles.

After a sacrifice fly by Nick Markakis gave the Orioles a 1-0 first-inning lead, Sabathia worked out of a jam in the second by striking out Brian Roberts and Cesar Izturis with the bases loaded. That began a streak in which Sabathia retired eight straight, five by strikeout.

Hinske tied it in the third with his seventh homer.

An infield hit, a double by Melky Cabrera and an intentional walk loaded the bases with two outs in the New York fourth before Jose Molina hit a fly to right.

New York hit 20 homers at Camden Yards this season, the most by any visiting team in one year since the ballpark opened in 1992.