NEW YORK -- Tainted or not, Alex Rodriguez had plenty of reasons to celebrate homer No. 661.
A-Rod passed Willie Mays for fourth on the career home run list Thursday night, helping the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3.
"All of this is pretty crazy," Rodriguez said. "A year ago today I never thought I would ever get a curtain call or be hitting in the middle of the lineup for the Yankees, helping our team win."
With a loud crack of the bat, the Yankees star drilled a line drive off Chris Tillman into the ramp area off limits to fans just to the left of Monument Park in center field in the third inning. The milestone hit gave New York a 3-2 lead.
A-Rod sent a soaring shot in the first that Delmon Young caught by reaching over the top of the wall in right field for a sacrifice fly.
Next up for Rodriguez: Babe Ruth at 714 home runs.
The Yankees, who said they will not pay a $6 million bonus after Rodriguez matched the Say Hey Kid on Friday in Boston, put a message on the main videoboard saying, "661 Home Runs. Alex Rodriguez just surpassed Willie Mays for sole possession of 4th place on baseball's all-time home runs list."
The slugger pumped his fist as he rounded first base, and fans gave Rodriguez, who didn't play last year while serving a drug suspension, a standing ovation as he was greeted warmly in the dugout by his teammates.
"It's a lot of fun to be part of," said Brett Gardner, who pulled off Rodriguez's helmet. "I know there's a lot of questions surrounding everything. Still, 661 home runs is a lot."
Mark Teixeira stayed out of the batter's box as the cheers swelled. Rodriguez was encouraged by the Yankees to take a curtain call, and he said he looked to manager Joe Girardi for reassurance that it was OK. Then, ever so briefly, the three-time AL MVP jumped to the top step and thrust both hands above his head.
"When you're productive you re-earn their respect and they pull for you," Girardi said of the fans.
Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, moved into a tie for fourth in the AL this season with seven home runs.
The Yankees and A-Rod have a marketing agreement that calls for $6 million each for up to five achievements, payable within 15 days of designation by the team. But New York has said the marketing possibilities were ruined after Rodriguez served his performance-enhancing drug penalty for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.
The accomplishments were contemplated to be homers 660, 714, 755 (Hank Aaron), 762 (Barry Bonds) and 763 as he moved up baseball's list.
No payment likely would trigger a grievance on Rodriguez's behalf by the players' union. Without a settlement, the case would be heard by an arbitrator.
"That's not where my mind is right now," Rodriguez said. "I'm really just trying to enjoy this moment."
Rodriguez was just 4 for 21 since his pinch-hit homer into the seats above the Green Monster at Fenway Park gave New York the lead in the eighth inning Friday. To get that milestone long ball, Red Sox security traded several pieces of memorabilia autographed by David Ortiz.
Like his 600th homer on Aug 4, 2010, which landed in Monument Park, the 14-time All-Star had no trouble retrieving this ball.
Rodriguez singled in the seventh, closing within 38 hits of joining another elite club: 3,000 hits.
Teixeira's RBI double in the fifth put New York ahead for good and kept Nathan Eovaldi (3-0) undefeated in six starts with the Yankees.
Eovaldi gave up solo shots to Jimmy Paredes and Caleb Joseph. Joseph also had an RBI double.
Andrew Miller pitched a hitless ninth against his former team for his 12th save.
Rodriguez came in 5 for 10 with three homers against Tillman (2-4) and, with runners on first and third in the first, he sent a 2-0 pitch to right field that got fans on their feet.
But Young, making just his fifth start this year in right field, perfectly timed his leap at the wall, his glove hitting on top of it behind the padding.
The catch must have impressed New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who made one of the great catches in NFL history, as he watched from the stands.
"He's one of the all-time greats. You've got to respect it," Tillman said of the homer. "Any time you make a mistake to that guy he's going to make you pay, and he pretty much did twice tonight."
The Orioles are winless in New York. They were swept in a two-game series by the Mets at Citi Field before switching to the Bronx for a four-game series against their AL East rivals.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: C Matt Wieters (Tommy John surgery) played seven innings in an extended spring training game after having a day off from being behind the plate.
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (wrist tendinitis and forearm strain) made 50 throws from 60 feet on flat ground, his first activity since going on the DL 10 days ago. ... RHP Ivan Nova allowed one run, two hits and struck out one in 2 1/3 innings in his second extended spring training game since elbow ligament replacement a year ago. ... LHP Chris Capuano (right quad strain) gave up a run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a rehab start.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-1) pitched four-hit ball for 7 2/3 innings in his last start vs. Tampa Bay.
Yankees: RHP Adam Warren (2-1) makes his first career start against the Orioles. As a reliever he has had a difficult time against Baltimore, going 1-2 with an 8.18 ERA -- his highest against an opponent he's faced at least five times -- in 10 appearances.
A-Rod passed Willie Mays for fourth on the career home run list Thursday night, helping the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3.
"All of this is pretty crazy," Rodriguez said. "A year ago today I never thought I would ever get a curtain call or be hitting in the middle of the lineup for the Yankees, helping our team win."
With a loud crack of the bat, the Yankees star drilled a line drive off Chris Tillman into the ramp area off limits to fans just to the left of Monument Park in center field in the third inning. The milestone hit gave New York a 3-2 lead.
A-Rod sent a soaring shot in the first that Delmon Young caught by reaching over the top of the wall in right field for a sacrifice fly.
Next up for Rodriguez: Babe Ruth at 714 home runs.
The Yankees, who said they will not pay a $6 million bonus after Rodriguez matched the Say Hey Kid on Friday in Boston, put a message on the main videoboard saying, "661 Home Runs. Alex Rodriguez just surpassed Willie Mays for sole possession of 4th place on baseball's all-time home runs list."
The slugger pumped his fist as he rounded first base, and fans gave Rodriguez, who didn't play last year while serving a drug suspension, a standing ovation as he was greeted warmly in the dugout by his teammates.
"It's a lot of fun to be part of," said Brett Gardner, who pulled off Rodriguez's helmet. "I know there's a lot of questions surrounding everything. Still, 661 home runs is a lot."
Mark Teixeira stayed out of the batter's box as the cheers swelled. Rodriguez was encouraged by the Yankees to take a curtain call, and he said he looked to manager Joe Girardi for reassurance that it was OK. Then, ever so briefly, the three-time AL MVP jumped to the top step and thrust both hands above his head.
"When you're productive you re-earn their respect and they pull for you," Girardi said of the fans.
Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, moved into a tie for fourth in the AL this season with seven home runs.
The Yankees and A-Rod have a marketing agreement that calls for $6 million each for up to five achievements, payable within 15 days of designation by the team. But New York has said the marketing possibilities were ruined after Rodriguez served his performance-enhancing drug penalty for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.
The accomplishments were contemplated to be homers 660, 714, 755 (Hank Aaron), 762 (Barry Bonds) and 763 as he moved up baseball's list.
No payment likely would trigger a grievance on Rodriguez's behalf by the players' union. Without a settlement, the case would be heard by an arbitrator.
"That's not where my mind is right now," Rodriguez said. "I'm really just trying to enjoy this moment."
Rodriguez was just 4 for 21 since his pinch-hit homer into the seats above the Green Monster at Fenway Park gave New York the lead in the eighth inning Friday. To get that milestone long ball, Red Sox security traded several pieces of memorabilia autographed by David Ortiz.
Like his 600th homer on Aug 4, 2010, which landed in Monument Park, the 14-time All-Star had no trouble retrieving this ball.
Rodriguez singled in the seventh, closing within 38 hits of joining another elite club: 3,000 hits.
Teixeira's RBI double in the fifth put New York ahead for good and kept Nathan Eovaldi (3-0) undefeated in six starts with the Yankees.
Eovaldi gave up solo shots to Jimmy Paredes and Caleb Joseph. Joseph also had an RBI double.
Andrew Miller pitched a hitless ninth against his former team for his 12th save.
Rodriguez came in 5 for 10 with three homers against Tillman (2-4) and, with runners on first and third in the first, he sent a 2-0 pitch to right field that got fans on their feet.
But Young, making just his fifth start this year in right field, perfectly timed his leap at the wall, his glove hitting on top of it behind the padding.
The catch must have impressed New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who made one of the great catches in NFL history, as he watched from the stands.
"He's one of the all-time greats. You've got to respect it," Tillman said of the homer. "Any time you make a mistake to that guy he's going to make you pay, and he pretty much did twice tonight."
The Orioles are winless in New York. They were swept in a two-game series by the Mets at Citi Field before switching to the Bronx for a four-game series against their AL East rivals.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: C Matt Wieters (Tommy John surgery) played seven innings in an extended spring training game after having a day off from being behind the plate.
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (wrist tendinitis and forearm strain) made 50 throws from 60 feet on flat ground, his first activity since going on the DL 10 days ago. ... RHP Ivan Nova allowed one run, two hits and struck out one in 2 1/3 innings in his second extended spring training game since elbow ligament replacement a year ago. ... LHP Chris Capuano (right quad strain) gave up a run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a rehab start.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-1) pitched four-hit ball for 7 2/3 innings in his last start vs. Tampa Bay.
Yankees: RHP Adam Warren (2-1) makes his first career start against the Orioles. As a reliever he has had a difficult time against Baltimore, going 1-2 with an 8.18 ERA -- his highest against an opponent he's faced at least five times -- in 10 appearances.
7:05PM,EDT,May 7,2015
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Baltimore - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Machado grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Paredes homered to right center (416 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Jones grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Young lined out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | BAL | NYY |
| Ellsbury singled to shallow right center. | 1 | 0 |
| Gardner singled to right, Ellsbury to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Rodriguez hit sacrifice fly to right, Ellsbury scored, Gardner to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Teixeira singled to right, Gardner scored, Teixeira tagged out at second attempting to advance on play. | 1 | 2 |
| McCann grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Davis struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Pearce grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Hardy fouled out to catcher. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | BAL | NYY |
| Beltrán grounded out to first. | 1 | 2 |
| Headley singled to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Drew struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| Gregorius struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Snider grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Joseph homered to left (368 feet). | 2 | 2 |
| Machado walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Paredes walked, Machado to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Jones lined out to center. | 2 | 2 |
| Young flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | BAL | NYY |
| Ellsbury singled to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Gardner grounded into double play, third to shortstop to first, Ellsbury out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| Rodriguez homered to center (423 feet). | 2 | 3 |
| Teixeira walked. | 2 | 3 |
| McCann grounded out to second. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Davis struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Pearce popped out to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Hardy grounded out to third. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | BAL | NYY |
| Beltrán flied out to center. | 2 | 3 |
| Headley grounded out to third. | 2 | 3 |
| Drew walked. | 2 | 3 |
| Gregorius singled to shallow left, Drew to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Ellsbury grounded out to second. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Snider doubled to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Joseph doubled to deep right center, Snider scored. | 3 | 3 |
| Machado sacrificed to catcher, Joseph to third. | 3 | 3 |
| Paredes walked. | 3 | 3 |
| Paredes picked off first. | 3 | 3 |
| Jones grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | BAL | NYY |
| Gardner doubled to right. | 3 | 3 |
| Rodriguez struck out swinging. | 3 | 3 |
| Teixeira doubled to right, Gardner scored. | 3 | 4 |
| McCann grounded out to second, Teixeira to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Beltrán flied out to center. | 3 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Young singled to right. | 3 | 4 |
| Davis struck out looking. | 3 | 4 |
| Pearce singled to left center, Young to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Hardy grounded into fielder's choice to third, Pearce out at second, Young to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Wilson relieved Eovaldi. | 3 | 4 |
| Snider grounded out to third. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | BAL | NYY |
| Headley popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| Drew doubled to right. | 3 | 4 |
| Gregorius fouled out to catcher. | 3 | 4 |
| Ellsbury walked. | 3 | 4 |
| Hunter relieved Tillman. | 3 | 4 |
| Gardner grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Ellsbury out at second, Drew to third. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Justin Wilson pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Joseph grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| Machado grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| Paredes flied out to center. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Tommy Hunter pitching for Baltimore | BAL | NYY |
| Rodriguez singled to left center. | 3 | 4 |
| Teixeira flied out to left. | 3 | 4 |
| McCann struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| Beltrán struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Dellin Betances pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Jones grounded out to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Young lined out to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Davis struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Brian Matusz pitching for Baltimore | BAL | NYY |
| Headley struck out looking. | 3 | 4 |
| Drew grounded out to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Gregorius lined out to left. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Miller pitching for New York | BAL | NYY |
| Pearce walked. | 3 | 4 |
| Hardy popped out to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Lavarnway struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| Lough ran for Pearce. | 3 | 4 |
| Joseph struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore Orioles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Machado 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | .256 | .333 | .467 |
| Paredes DH | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 26 | .339 | .369 | .645 |
| Jones CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .367 | .407 | .602 |
| Young RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .322 | .344 | .356 |
| Davis 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 18 | .261 | .327 | .511 |
| Pearce 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | .188 | .274 | .297 |
Lough PR
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .222 | .263 | .389 |
| Hardy SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Snider LF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .288 | .365 | .409 |
a-Lavarnway PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .158 | .200 | .211 |
| Joseph C | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .296 | .390 | .493 |
| Totals | 31 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 152 | |||
| a-struck out swinging for T Snider in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Snider (3, Eovaldi); Joseph (3, Eovaldi) HR: Paredes (4, 1st inning off Eovaldi 0 on, 1 Out); Joseph (3, 3rd inning off Eovaldi 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: Paredes (12), Joseph 2 (9) S: Machado Orioles RISP: 1-6 (Joseph 1-1, Jones 0-2, Snider 0-1, Hardy 0-1, Young 0-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING Picked Off: Paredes (1st base by Eovaldi) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Machado-Hardy-Davis). Outfield Assist: Young (Teixeira at 2nd base). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Yankee Stadium, New York, NY |
| Attendance | 39,816 (80.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:51 |
| Weather | 70 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 12 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Mike DiMuro, First Base - Tripp Gibson, Second Base - Brian Gorman, Third Base - Mark Carlson |
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