NEW YORK, July 12 - Alex Rodriguez began the second half of Major League Baseball's season with his 31st home run of the year as the New York Yankees scored a 7-3 road victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Rodriguez followed a fourth-inning home run by Derek Jeter with one of his own for the 495th homer of his career.

Team mate Bobby Abreu also homered in the fourth as the Yankees (43-43) climbed to .500 for the first time since June.

All three homers came off loser James Shields (7-5), who gave up nine hits and six runs in six innings.

Abreu finished with three hits and drove in three runs. His home run boosted the Yankees's lead to 4-1 and he drove in New York's final run with an eighth-inning single that scored Rodriguez.

"He's so important for us," Yankees manager Joe Torre told reporters when asked about Abreu. "I think our record in the second half is going to really depend on how our (left-handed hitters) do."

Rodriguez announced before the game he would not discuss a potential contract extension prior to the end of the season.

"I think it would be selfish on my part to talk about my contract status when our team desperately needs wins," Rodriguez told reporters.

Rodriguez has three seasons remaining on a $252 million, 10-year deal but could become a free agent after the season if he decided to opt out of his contract.

*David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez supplied the hits and Tim Wakefield won his 10th game as the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4. Oritz went 3-for-5, driving in two runs, and Ramirez was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Wakefield (10-8) scattered nine hits over six innings.

*Adrian Beltre's two-run single keyed a three-run fifth inning by the Seattle Mariners in a 3-2 home win over the Detroit Tigers.

*Michael Cuddyer's four hits led the Minnesota Twins to a 6-2 home win over the Oakland Athletics.