Alex Rodriguez experienced at least some of the “magic” Joe Girardi had said he wished for him in his last game as a Yankee.
But not without a little bit of awkwardness sprinkled in.
Kind of fitting for his career, no?
It started with an almost apocalyptic thunderstorm that brought everything but frogs, dousing a pregame ceremony in A-Rod’s honor, then dissipating almost as quickly as it arrived.
Rodriguez promptly drove in a run with a line-drive double to right-center off Rays righthander Chris Archer in the first inning, tying the score. And for the first time this season, he got a chance to play third base, if only for one batter in the ninth inning.
But in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory before a sellout crowd of 46,459 Friday night at the Stadium, it was one of the players the 41-year-old Rodriguez has mentored this season, second baseman Starlin Castro, who did the most damage. He hit a two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning and a two-out, two-run homer in the sixth to give the Yankees, still very much alive in the AL wild-card race, a 5-3 lead.
A-Rod, feted with “A-Rod! A-Rod!” chants throughout, including during the Bleacher Creatures Roll Call, went 1-for-4. After his RBI double in the first, he grounded sharply to short in the fourth, struck out in the fifth and grounded to short in the seventh. He went out to play third in the ninth, taking the field to cheers, and then left with one out to hugs from his teammates and more cheers. Dellin Betances wound up striking out the side in the inning.
CC Sabathia allowed three runs and four hits in six innings, departing with a 5-3 lead. Archer allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings.
Girardi, who on Sunday had said he would “find a way” to play A-Rod as much as the DH wanted in Boston before backtracking Tuesday, was booed during pregame introductions.
Evan Longoria’s 26th home run, a two-out blast in the top of the first, gave the Rays a 1-0 lead, but the Yankees came right back in the bottom half.
Archer hit leadoff man Brett Gardner and fell behind Jacoby Ellsbury 3-and-1 before striking him out. Up stepped Rodriguez to more boisterous “A-Rod! A-Rod!” chants.
“I’m hoping he finds some magic tonight,” Girardi said before the game. And with the count 2-and-2, Rodriguez laced a 96-mph fastball into the gap in right-center for an RBI double. It was his first extra-base hit since July 18, when he homered, and first double since July 5.
Girardi had not been playing him much recently. A-Rod entered the night with only 12 plate appearances since July 29.
In Boston, Rodriguez sidestepped questions about his relationship with Girardi, the only member of the organization to say nice things about him during the 2013 season, when he was appealing his suspension for PED use and sparring publicly with team hierarchy.
Rodriguez opened up a bit more before Friday night’s game.
“It’s been very difficult,” he said. “It’s been awkward and difficult. But we are family. We’ve had a wonderful relationship for the last 10 years. And it’s been really good. Families have disagreements. And that’s OK — he has his opinion, I have mine. But in the long run, we’re going to be fine.”
What comes next for Rodriguez is not clear. Upon his release, he is set to sign a contract with the Yankees as a special adviser and instructor, reporting directly to managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner.
There have been indications that A-Rod might have an opportunity to play elsewhere — he’s free to sign with another team after his release — with his hometown Marlins among those who at least have had preliminary discussions about it.
A-Rod has dodged questions all week about whether he’d be interested if another team calls, never fully ruling it in or out.
“When you start playing as a little boy, you don’t think about the end very often,” Rodriguez said before the game. “It wasn’t until Hal and I sat down last Wednesday that I actually thought it could be a reality. I’ve often said that baseball has a funny way to tap you on the shoulder when you least expect it and tells you it’s the end. I’m at peace . . . After all of this, I’m going to need a long nap, and recover, and I’ll see where life takes me. But right now, I think I value wearing this uniform, and for me, Yankees pinstripes is enough.”
..... - Newsday