ARLINGTON, Texas -- Alex Rodriguez had quite a 40th birthday bash.
A-Rod became the fourth player in major league history to homer as a teen and in his 40s, marking his birthday by lining an opposite-field shot to right against his former team to help the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 Monday night.
"It's amazing, hitting one as a teenager and hitting one here today," Rodriguez said. "A lot has happened, and I'm just happy to be here."
Ty Cobb, Rusty Staub and Gary Sheffield are the only other players to homer before turning 20 and then at age 40 or after, according to STATS.
"It's remarkable what he's been able to do, and how good he was at such a young age, and he continues to play well at an older age," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Rodriguez has 24 homers this season and 678 in his career, fourth on the all-time list. The latest came two days after he went deep three times against Minnesota in his previous game.
"Very impressive, but you know we're not surprised by much that he does anymore," said third baseman Chase Headley, now playing the position A-Rod had in New York before his season-long suspension a year ago for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract.
A-Rod's solo drive in the sixth off Matt Harrison (1-2) was the designated hitter's big league-best sixth homer on his birthday, STATS said, breaking a tie with Todd Helton, Chipper Jones, Derrek Lee and Al Simmons.
"Yeah, it's pretty depressing being 40. I've had a lot of texts and emails that I've joined an exclusive club," Rodriguez said. "But I'm definitely grateful and happy."
When he was traded to the Yankees before spring training in 2004, Rodriguez was only three seasons into the $252 million, 10-year contract he signed with Texas after starting his career with Seattle from 1994-2000. He got a $275 million, 10-year deal from New York after the 2007 season.
Didi Gregorius had a career-high four RBIs and matched his best with three hits, including a two-run homer in the third. His two-run single in the seventh made it 6-2.
The AL East-leading Yankees won for the seventh time in eight games, and their seven-game division lead is their largest since leading by 7½ games on July 29, 2012. New York's 15-5 record in July is the best in the majors.
Ivan Nova (3-3) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. Chasen Shreve, Justin Wilson and Dellin Betances followed with hitless relief.
Harrison gave up six runs and six hits in six innings, his third start since coming back from spinal fusion surgery.
"I feel like I didn't get loose until about the fifth inning," he said. "The third inning I made some bad pitches to start that inning off and got some trouble there. After us scoring the two runs I went and gave it back to them, gave the momentum right back."
BIG EFFORT AT THE BOTTOM
The Yankees went ahead to stay when the Nos. 7-9 batters all had hits to start the third. Headley singled, Gregorius homered and Brendan Ryan tripled before scoring on Chris Young's sacrifice fly. That came a day after New York's Nos. 6-9 batters accounted for all the RBIs in a 7-2 win at Minnesota.
TICKED-OFF TEX
As Mark Teixeira rounded third base in the eighth, coach Joe Espada said "Easy! Easy!" -- an indication he should be able to score easily. Except CF Leonys Martin's throw beat Teixeira to the plate and he was out to end the inning. Teixeira glared back toward the coach, clearly upset, and was very animated in the dugout. "That can't happen," Teixeira said. "I can get hurt not expecting a play at the plate. That's a big run. There's just a lot of reasons why that can't happen." Martin also had a leaping catch near the top of the 8-foot wall to rob Teixeira of a possible homer in the second.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: CF Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the starting lineup with a sore shoulder a day after slamming into the wall making a catch in Minnesota. He entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland is set to begin his rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Round Rock. It will be his first game since hurting his shoulder in the home opener April 10.
UP NEXT
Yankees: Chris Capuano will make a spot start Tuesday in place of rookie RHP Bryan Mitchell, who was in line to make the start until an accident in the weight room last week. Mitchell is OK, but hit his head after falling backward while working with exercise bands attached to a door that someone opened.
Rangers: LHP Martin Perez (0-1, 4.91 ERA) makes his third start since returning from Tommy John surgery. The Yankees are one of two AL opponents the 24-year-old Perez hasn't faced.
A-Rod became the fourth player in major league history to homer as a teen and in his 40s, marking his birthday by lining an opposite-field shot to right against his former team to help the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 Monday night.
"It's amazing, hitting one as a teenager and hitting one here today," Rodriguez said. "A lot has happened, and I'm just happy to be here."
Ty Cobb, Rusty Staub and Gary Sheffield are the only other players to homer before turning 20 and then at age 40 or after, according to STATS.
"It's remarkable what he's been able to do, and how good he was at such a young age, and he continues to play well at an older age," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Rodriguez has 24 homers this season and 678 in his career, fourth on the all-time list. The latest came two days after he went deep three times against Minnesota in his previous game.
"Very impressive, but you know we're not surprised by much that he does anymore," said third baseman Chase Headley, now playing the position A-Rod had in New York before his season-long suspension a year ago for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract.
A-Rod's solo drive in the sixth off Matt Harrison (1-2) was the designated hitter's big league-best sixth homer on his birthday, STATS said, breaking a tie with Todd Helton, Chipper Jones, Derrek Lee and Al Simmons.
"Yeah, it's pretty depressing being 40. I've had a lot of texts and emails that I've joined an exclusive club," Rodriguez said. "But I'm definitely grateful and happy."
When he was traded to the Yankees before spring training in 2004, Rodriguez was only three seasons into the $252 million, 10-year contract he signed with Texas after starting his career with Seattle from 1994-2000. He got a $275 million, 10-year deal from New York after the 2007 season.
Didi Gregorius had a career-high four RBIs and matched his best with three hits, including a two-run homer in the third. His two-run single in the seventh made it 6-2.
The AL East-leading Yankees won for the seventh time in eight games, and their seven-game division lead is their largest since leading by 7½ games on July 29, 2012. New York's 15-5 record in July is the best in the majors.
Ivan Nova (3-3) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. Chasen Shreve, Justin Wilson and Dellin Betances followed with hitless relief.
Harrison gave up six runs and six hits in six innings, his third start since coming back from spinal fusion surgery.
"I feel like I didn't get loose until about the fifth inning," he said. "The third inning I made some bad pitches to start that inning off and got some trouble there. After us scoring the two runs I went and gave it back to them, gave the momentum right back."
BIG EFFORT AT THE BOTTOM
The Yankees went ahead to stay when the Nos. 7-9 batters all had hits to start the third. Headley singled, Gregorius homered and Brendan Ryan tripled before scoring on Chris Young's sacrifice fly. That came a day after New York's Nos. 6-9 batters accounted for all the RBIs in a 7-2 win at Minnesota.
TICKED-OFF TEX
As Mark Teixeira rounded third base in the eighth, coach Joe Espada said "Easy! Easy!" -- an indication he should be able to score easily. Except CF Leonys Martin's throw beat Teixeira to the plate and he was out to end the inning. Teixeira glared back toward the coach, clearly upset, and was very animated in the dugout. "That can't happen," Teixeira said. "I can get hurt not expecting a play at the plate. That's a big run. There's just a lot of reasons why that can't happen." Martin also had a leaping catch near the top of the 8-foot wall to rob Teixeira of a possible homer in the second.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: CF Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the starting lineup with a sore shoulder a day after slamming into the wall making a catch in Minnesota. He entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland is set to begin his rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Round Rock. It will be his first game since hurting his shoulder in the home opener April 10.
UP NEXT
Yankees: Chris Capuano will make a spot start Tuesday in place of rookie RHP Bryan Mitchell, who was in line to make the start until an accident in the weight room last week. Mitchell is OK, but hit his head after falling backward while working with exercise bands attached to a door that someone opened.
Rangers: LHP Martin Perez (0-1, 4.91 ERA) makes his third start since returning from Tommy John surgery. The Yankees are one of two AL opponents the 24-year-old Perez hasn't faced.
8:00PM,EDT,July 27,2015
Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| New York - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Harrison pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Gardner grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Young flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Ivan Nova pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Odor grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Choo flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Fielder grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Matt Harrison pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Teixeira flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| McCann popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Beltrán grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Ivan Nova pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Moreland flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Beltré grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Hamilton singled to shallow left center. | 0 | 0 |
| Andrus doubled to deep left, Hamilton scored. | 0 | 1 |
| Martín singled to right center, Andrus scored. | 0 | 2 |
| Martín stole second. | 0 | 2 |
| Martín safe at third on throwing error by catcher McCann. | 0 | 2 |
| Chirinos struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Matt Harrison pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Headley singled to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Gregorius homered to right (376 feet), Headley scored. | 2 | 2 |
| Ryan tripled to deep left. | 2 | 2 |
| Gardner walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Young hit sacrifice fly to left, Ryan scored. | 3 | 2 |
| Rodriguez grounded into double play, third to second to first, Gardner out at second. | 3 | 2 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Ivan Nova pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Odor fouled out to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Choo struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| Fielder struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Matt Harrison pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Teixeira lined out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| McCann singled to right. | 3 | 2 |
| Beltrán lined out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Headley popped out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Ivan Nova pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Moreland doubled to deep left center. | 3 | 2 |
| Beltré grounded out to second, Moreland to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Hamilton walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Andrus hit by pitch, Hamilton to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Martín grounded into fielder's choice to first, Moreland out at home, Hamilton to third, Andrus to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Chirinos grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Matt Harrison pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Gregorius grounded out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Ryan grounded out to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Gardner struck out looking. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Ivan Nova pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Odor grounded out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Choo grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Fielder singled to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Moreland walked, Fielder to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Beltré flied out to left. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Matt Harrison pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Young struck out looking. | 3 | 2 |
| Rodriguez homered to right (372 feet). | 4 | 2 |
| Teixeira flied out to right. | 4 | 2 |
| McCann grounded out to second. | 4 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chasen Shreve pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Shreve relieved Nova. | 4 | 2 |
| Hamilton grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 2 |
| Andrus grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 2 |
| Martín struck out looking. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Matt Harrison pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Beltrán walked. | 4 | 2 |
| Headley doubled to deep right, Beltrán to third. | 4 | 2 |
| Freeman relieved Harrison. | 4 | 2 |
| Gregorius singled to right, Beltrán and Headley scored. | 6 | 2 |
| Ryan lined out to center. | 6 | 2 |
| Gardner popped out to shortstop. | 6 | 2 |
| Young popped out to shortstop. | 6 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chasen Shreve pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Chirinos struck out swinging. | 6 | 2 |
| Odor struck out swinging. | 6 | 2 |
| Choo walked. | 6 | 2 |
| Fielder struck out swinging. | 6 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Phil Klein pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Klein relieved Freeman. | 6 | 2 |
| Rodriguez struck out looking. | 6 | 2 |
| Teixeira singled to center. | 6 | 2 |
| McCann popped out to second. | 6 | 2 |
| Beltrán walked, Teixeira to second. | 6 | 2 |
| Headley singled to center, Teixeira thrown out at home, Beltrán to second. | 6 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Justin Wilson pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Gardner in left field. | 6 | 2 |
| Young in right field. | 6 | 2 |
| Ellsbury in center field. | 6 | 2 |
| Wilson relieved Shreve. | 6 | 2 |
| Moreland walked. | 6 | 2 |
| Moreland to second on wild pitch by Wilson. | 6 | 2 |
| Beltré grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 2 |
| Hamilton struck out swinging. | 6 | 2 |
| Andrus lined out to third. | 6 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Phil Klein pitching for Texas | NYY | TEX |
| Gregorius singled to left. | 6 | 2 |
| Ryan grounded out to second, Gregorius to second. | 6 | 2 |
| Gardner grounded into fielder's choice to third, Gregorius out at third. | 6 | 2 |
| Young singled to left center, Gardner to second. | 6 | 2 |
| Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Dellin Betances pitching for New York | NYY | TEX |
| Betances relieved Wilson. | 6 | 2 |
| Martín walked. | 6 | 2 |
| Telis hit for Chirinos. | 6 | 2 |
| Martín to second on fielder's indifference. | 6 | 2 |
| Telis grounded out to third. | 6 | 2 |
| Odor struck out swinging. | 6 | 2 |
| Choo grounded out to first. | 6 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York Yankees | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Gardner CF-LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 27 | .292 | .371 | .459 |
| Young LF-RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .257 | .307 | .469 |
| Rodriguez DH | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 | .276 | .373 | .543 |
| Teixeira 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .259 | .362 | .546 |
| McCann C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | .250 | .325 | .451 |
| Beltrán RF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | .254 | .309 | .417 |
Ellsbury CF
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .292 | .362 | .368 |
| Headley 3B | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .268 | .318 | .394 |
| Gregorius SS | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .248 | .297 | .340 |
| Ryan 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .261 | .320 | .478 |
| Totals | 35 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 152 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Headley (16, Harrison) 3B: Ryan (2, Harrison) HR: Gregorius (5, 3rd inning off Harrison 1 on, 0 Out); Rodriguez (24, 6th inning off Harrison 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: Gregorius 4 (25), Young (28), Rodriguez (59) SF: Young GIDP: Rodriguez Yankees RISP: 2-4 (Gregorius 1-1, Gardner 0-1, Rodriguez 0-1, Headley 1-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: McCann (5, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, TX |
| Attendance | 33,691 (70% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:01 |
| Weather | 97 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 11 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Jerry Meals, First Base - Andy Fletcher, Second Base - Jordan Baker, Third Base - Paul Emmel |
No comments:
Post a Comment