With familiar boos from opposing fans echoing throughout Fenway Park, A-Rod ran the count to 3-0 and then pounced on a 95 mph fastball over the middle of the plate from Junichi Tazawa.
A second or two later, the ball was in the left-field seats above the Green Monster for a solo homer.
Rodriguez jogged around the bases on the pinch-hit shot that broke an eighth-inning tie and lifted the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
"I'm actually very excited, trying to stay in the moment," Rodriguez said. "It's good to do it in a good team win."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi left Rodriguez out of the starting lineup to rest, but sent him up to bat for Garrett Jones with one out in the eighth. Girardi was among the first in the dugout greeting party to give Rodriguez a high-five.
"It's a big hit for us in that situation," the manager said. "Allows us to use our bullpen the way we want to use it, gives us the lead, he gets by the 660 and we move on."
It was Rodriguez's first career homer as a pinch hitter -- he was 1 for 16 in those situations -- and it came at Fenway Park, where he made his major league debut with Seattle in 1994.
"I really like this place," Rodriguez said.
Mays saluted Rodriguez in a statement released by the San Francisco Giants.
"Congratulations to Alex Rodriguez on his 660th home run. Milestones in baseball are meant to be broken and I wish him continued success throughout his career," the Hall of Famer said.
The Yankees' reaction was a bit subdued for a teammate who was suspended all last season for his involvement in the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drug scandal. Players stayed in the dugout, applauding. But when A-Rod arrived, teammates slapped his hand and enthusiastically patted him on the back.
"I think everyone realized what he was up there for," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Unfortunately a 3-0 pitch found too much of the plate."
Asked how fans should remember No. 660, Rodriguez said: "I don't know. I know that I'm very excited. A year ago today I never thought I'd be hitting home runs and helping the Yankees win. Being in the middle of it is fun again."
The milestone homer could set up a legal showdown with the team over a $6 million payment.
Rodriguez and the Yankees have a $30 million marketing agreement that calls for payments of $6 million each for up to five accomplishments, payable within 15 days of designation by the team. The accomplishments were contemplated to be home runs 660, 714, 755, 762 and 763.
But the Yankees are thinking about letting the milestones pass without making a designation. Due to his drug suspension, the marketing possibilities for the milestones have been ruined, the Yankees appear set to argue.
Still, only three players have more homers than Rodriguez -- Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).
"Any time you're sandwiched between Willie Mays and Babe Ruth, it's pretty special," the three-time MVP said.
Rodriguez's sixth homer this season came after he struggled over his previous 10 games, going 5 for 37 with one homer and two RBIs. His 659th came on Sunday, but he was 0 for 6 in his most recent game with four strikeouts and a game-ending double play in a 3-2 loss in 13 innings to Tampa Bay on Wednesday night.
"Joe had a conversation with me early this spring and he wanted us to take 3-0 swinging a little bit more serious, be a little bit more assertive," Rodriguez said. "I literally heard his voice right before that pitch."
Esmil Rogers (1-1) earned the win with a scoreless seventh, and Andrew Miller closed for his ninth save.
Tazawa (0-1) took the loss.
The Yankees scored in the first on an RBI double by Carlos Beltran. Boston tied it in the third when Xander Bogaerts doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts.
Allen Craig's first homer of the season put Boston ahead 2-1 in the fourth. New York pulled even in the seventh on an RBI single by Brian McCann.
ON A ROLL
The Yankees won for the 11th time in 13 games and retained sole possession of first place in the AL East.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: LHP Chris Capuano and RHP Ivan Nova are expected to throw Saturday. Both are on the disabled list -- Capuano with a strained right quadriceps and Nova while recovering from right elbow surgery.
Red Sox: C Ryan Hanigan left in the seventh with a broken knuckle that Farrell said will require surgery and cause a "lengthy" absence. A pitch from Tommy Layne hit Teixeira on his right wrist and the ball ricocheted off Hanigan. Teixeira and Hanigan both flung their arms in pain simultaneously. Teixeira stayed in the game, but Hanigan was replaced by Sandy Leon.
UP NEXT
Yankees: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 4.15 ERA) pitches Saturday in the middle game of the series.
Red Sox: LHP Wade Miley (1-2, 8.62) tries to bounce back from his second start this season in which he failed to get out of the third inning. He gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings Sunday in an 18-7 loss at Baltimore.
7:10PM,EDT,May 1,2015
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| New York - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Masterson pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Ellsbury singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Gardner flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Teixeira walked, Ellsbury to second. | 0 | 0 |
| McCann flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Beltrán doubled to deep left center, Ellsbury scored, Teixeira to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Headley grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Betts flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Pedroia flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Ortiz flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Justin Masterson pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Jones lined out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Drew struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Gregorius grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Ramírez grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Napoli grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Sandoval singled to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Craig struck out looking. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Justin Masterson pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Ellsbury grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Gardner singled to left center. | 1 | 0 |
| Teixeira grounded into double play, third to shortstop to first, Gardner out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Bogaerts doubled to deep left. | 1 | 0 |
| Hanigan lined out to center, Bogaerts to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Betts hit sacrifice fly to center, Bogaerts scored. | 1 | 1 |
| Pedroia walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Ortiz singled to center, Pedroia to third. | 1 | 1 |
| Ramírez grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Justin Masterson pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| McCann grounded out to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Beltrán singled to right. | 1 | 1 |
| Headley doubled to deep right, Beltrán to third. | 1 | 1 |
| Jones struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Drew grounded out to first. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Napoli struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Sandoval fouled out to catcher. | 1 | 1 |
| Craig homered to left (326 feet). | 1 | 2 |
| Bogaerts walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Hanigan hit a ground rule double to left, Bogaerts to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Betts grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Justin Masterson pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Gregorius grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 2 |
| Ellsbury singled to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Gardner flied out to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Teixeira walked, Ellsbury to second. | 1 | 2 |
| McCann hit by pitch, Ellsbury to third, Teixeira to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Beltrán grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Pedroia reached on infield single to pitcher. | 1 | 2 |
| Ortiz lined into double play, third to first, Pedroia doubled off first. | 1 | 2 |
| Ramírez safe at first on error by shortstop Gregorius. | 1 | 2 |
| Napoli hit a ground rule double to deep right center, Ramírez to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Sandoval grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Justin Masterson pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Headley lined out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Jones popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Drew flied out to left. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Craig struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| Bogaerts flied out to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Hanigan grounded out to first. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Justin Masterson pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Gregorius walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Layne relieved Masterson. | 1 | 2 |
| Ellsbury popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Gardner struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Teixeira hit by pitch, Gregorius to second. | 1 | 2 |
| León catching. | 1 | 2 |
| McCann singled to left, Gregorius scored, Teixeira to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Beltrán popped out to second. | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Esmil Rogers pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Rogers relieved Sabathia. | 2 | 2 |
| Betts fouled out to catcher. | 2 | 2 |
| Pedroia walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Ortiz grounded into double play, third to first, Pedroia out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Junichi Tazawa pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Tazawa relieved Layne. | 2 | 2 |
| Headley grounded out to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Rodriguez hit for Jones. | 2 | 2 |
| Rodriguez homered to left (392 feet). | 3 | 2 |
| Drew popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Gregorius singled to left center. | 3 | 2 |
| Gregorius to second on balk by Tazawa. | 3 | 2 |
| Gregorius to third on wild pitch by Tazawa. | 3 | 2 |
| Ellsbury grounded out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Dellin Betances pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Young in right field. | 3 | 2 |
| Betances relieved Rogers. | 3 | 2 |
| Ramírez grounded out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Napoli walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Sandoval singled to left center, Napoli to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Holt hit for Craig. | 3 | 2 |
| Holt struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| Bogaerts struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Robbie Ross Jr. pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Holt in right field. | 3 | 2 |
| Ross relieved Tazawa. | 3 | 2 |
| Gardner walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Teixeira grounded out to second, Gardner to second. | 3 | 2 |
| McCann struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| Young intentionally walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Headley flied out to right. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Miller pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Miller relieved Betances. | 3 | 2 |
| León fouled out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| Betts struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| Pedroia lined out to third. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York Yankees | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Ellsbury CF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .326 | .406 | .382 |
| Gardner LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .308 | .400 | .400 |
| Teixeira 1B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | .211 | .337 | .592 |
| McCann C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .265 | .325 | .441 |
| Beltrán RF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .181 | .231 | .292 |
Young RF
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .305 | .379 | .644 |
| Headley 3B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .230 | .280 | .391 |
| Jones DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .167 | .194 | .267 |
a-Rodriguez PH-DH
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .243 | .376 | .557 |
| Drew 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .167 | .260 | .394 |
| Gregorius SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .212 | .274 | .242 |
| Totals | 35 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 136 | |||
| a-homered to left for G Jones in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Beltrán (6, Masterson); Headley (3, Masterson) HR: Rodriguez (6, 8th inning off Tazawa 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: Beltrán (8), McCann (13), Rodriguez (14) 2-out RBI: Beltrán, McCann GIDP: Teixeira Yankees RISP: 2-11 (Beltrán 1-3, Jones 0-1, Drew 0-1, McCann 1-3, Ellsbury 0-1, Headley 0-2) Team LOB: 12 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Gregorius (4, ground ball) DP: 2 (Headley-Teixeira 2). | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| C R. HANIGAN (RIGHT HAND) LEFT GAME TOP 7TH. |
Game Information
| Stadium | Fenway Park, Boston, MA |
| Attendance | 35,444 (94.1% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:14 |
| Weather | 44 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 6 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Chris Guccione, First Base - Cory Blaser, Second Base - Jeff Nelson, Third Base - Laz Diaz |
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