ARod now 10th all-time in home runs

Slugger's second shot Saturday moves him past Palmeiro

By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com

ARod smashed two home runs on Saturday to tie and then pass Rafael Palmeiro, moving into 10th place all-time with 570 home runs. (AP)

• ARod's two-run home run »

ANAHEIM -- With a solo home run to center field in the eighth inning at Angel Stadium during Saturday's 14-8 loss to the Halos, Alex Rodriguez passed Rafael Palmeiro for 10th on baseball's all-time home runs list, hitting the 570th of his career.

Rodriguez tied Palmeiro in the first inning with a two-run homer to left field.

"Alex has been amazing for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He is a big threat and will continue to get milestones as long as he stays healthy."

Rodriguez has been on a tear recently, hitting .407 with a double, eight home runs and 22 RBIs in his past 16 games.

A career .332 hitter against the Halos, A-Rod also has 65 home runs against Anaheim, the most by any active player against an opponent.

Yet for Rodriguez, there is something special about Angel Stadium, where he continues to rake. In 85 games at the Halos' home park, he has 35 home runs.

"I have always enjoyed playing here in Southern California, because most of my career has been on the West Coast," Rodriguez said. "Going back to when I was 18 years old, I have always felt pretty good here."

Saturday's two home runs marked the 53rd time that he's had a multihomer game in his career, but it was his first of 2009.

Not only has Rodriguez performed against the Angels his entire career, he continues to clobber Halos starting pitcher Jered Weaver, with four of his five career hits against the righty coming as home runs.

"It was middle in, not a bad spot, really," Weaver said about A-Rod's first homer. "It didn't sound like he got it all. It kind of surprised me that it carried that far. The guy is strong. That's why he puts up the numbers he does. He's got a great approach at the plate -- and he's really strong."