BOSTON -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi finally found a spot he liked for Alex Rodriguez.
Two more games and he won't have to worry about it.
Benched from the starting lineup once again as his finale approaches, Rodriguez pinch hit and flied out in the seventh inning of New York's 9-4 comeback win against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
"I was looking for a three-run homer so I went to him," Girardi said of A-Rod. "Just missed it."
Red Sox star David Ortiz limped off in the ninth inning after fouling a pitch off his right shin. Boston said X-rays were negative.
"My heart sank a little bit when I saw it, but I just saw him and I feel much better," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.
New York received another health scare when pitcher Nathan Eovaldi left after one inning because of right elbow discomfort.
Chants of `We Want A-Rod!' echoed around the park at the start of the seventh. He was greeted by loud boos when he stepped out of the dugout to face Matt Barnes. They were louder when he was announced and again when he trotted back to the dugout after his flyout to right field, which dropped his batting average to .203 and extended his slump to 4 for 37 (.108).
Rodriguez has just one start and eight at-bats in 17 games since July 22 as New York traded veterans and turned toward a youth movement. He had not appeared in a game since Aug. 2.
"My job description does not entail a farewell tour," Girardi said during a pregame media session that at times was a bit testy. "My job description is to try to win every game and to try to put everyone in the best possible position to do that, and that's what I'm trying to do."
Rookie Gary Sanchez had four hits, including his first major league home run. Didi Gregorius also homered for New York, which overcame a 4-1 deficit, and Fernando Abad (1-6) gave up Starlin Castro's two-run double that capped a five-run seventh.
Tyler Clippard (1-0) pitched one inning for his first victory with the Yankees since being acquired from Arizona last week. New York used seven relievers after the departure of Eovaldi, whose fastball velocity was 93-94 mph, down from 97 mph in his previous start.
Eovaldi is being sent back to New York for further examination. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild noticed the velocity dip.
"Larry asked him again: What hurts?" Girardi said. "He said I'm OK. He finally said he felt something in his elbow."
Mookie Betts had two doubles for Boston before leaving with right calf tightness.
At the beginning of his pregame media session, Girardi said Rodriguez will be in the starting lineup Thursday despite Boston scratching knuckleballer Steven Wright.
New York said Sunday that Rodriguez, a 41-year-old designated hitter with 696 home runs, will be released following Friday's homestand opener against Tampa Bay.
Girardi said he "made a mistake" by saying on Sunday that if Rodriguez wanted to play in all remaining games before his release that he would try to get him in the games.
"I talked to him again on Tuesday about it and said: This is what my plans were," Girardi explained. "I knew he didn't like it. But, again, I have a responsibility to the game of baseball. No one individual is ever bigger than this game. No one. No one. No one.
"And I'm not going to forget about it -- as much as we've been through together. It's hard. Believe me, it's really hard."
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5) will start for Boston on Thursday because Wright jammed his right shoulder while diving into a base as pinch runner against the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend.
"It's about winning the games," Girardi said when asked if he liked the matchup. "That's what it's always about here. It'll continue to be that way."
Girardi then answered about 12 minutes of questions why A-Rod wasn't starting the first two games of the series.
"You could say what you want, there's a lot of relationships involved here and it bothers me sometimes because people say one thing to do and because it becomes controversial they say another and it's difficult," Girardi said. "When we look at this decision, we're basing it on a substantial amount of at-bats -- and it's not what we want. I think our hope is he'd hit 30 home runs again, but that hasn't been the case this year."
Girardi said he understands some may consider him a `bad guy' for not playing A-Rod.
"It is what it is," he said. "It's part of the job, I guess."
Girardi explained further that Boston was in the AL East race and Tampa Bay was out of it, justifying his decision to start Rodriguez on Friday.
"My job is to put out what I feel is the best lineup, and that's what I'm trying to do," Girardi said. "It's been difficult."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: OF Chris Young (strained right hamstring) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket. Farrell said he'd "probably have a minimum of 20, 25 at-bats."... OF/C Blake Swihart will have season-ending surgery on his left ankle Monday. Farrell said Swihart will have a three-to-four month recovery.
UP NEXT
RHP Michael Pineda (6-10) starts Thursday for the Yankees.
New York Yankees
Two more games and he won't have to worry about it.
Benched from the starting lineup once again as his finale approaches, Rodriguez pinch hit and flied out in the seventh inning of New York's 9-4 comeback win against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
"I was looking for a three-run homer so I went to him," Girardi said of A-Rod. "Just missed it."
Red Sox star David Ortiz limped off in the ninth inning after fouling a pitch off his right shin. Boston said X-rays were negative.
"My heart sank a little bit when I saw it, but I just saw him and I feel much better," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.
New York received another health scare when pitcher Nathan Eovaldi left after one inning because of right elbow discomfort.
Chants of `We Want A-Rod!' echoed around the park at the start of the seventh. He was greeted by loud boos when he stepped out of the dugout to face Matt Barnes. They were louder when he was announced and again when he trotted back to the dugout after his flyout to right field, which dropped his batting average to .203 and extended his slump to 4 for 37 (.108).
Rodriguez has just one start and eight at-bats in 17 games since July 22 as New York traded veterans and turned toward a youth movement. He had not appeared in a game since Aug. 2.
"My job description does not entail a farewell tour," Girardi said during a pregame media session that at times was a bit testy. "My job description is to try to win every game and to try to put everyone in the best possible position to do that, and that's what I'm trying to do."
Rookie Gary Sanchez had four hits, including his first major league home run. Didi Gregorius also homered for New York, which overcame a 4-1 deficit, and Fernando Abad (1-6) gave up Starlin Castro's two-run double that capped a five-run seventh.
Tyler Clippard (1-0) pitched one inning for his first victory with the Yankees since being acquired from Arizona last week. New York used seven relievers after the departure of Eovaldi, whose fastball velocity was 93-94 mph, down from 97 mph in his previous start.
Eovaldi is being sent back to New York for further examination. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild noticed the velocity dip.
"Larry asked him again: What hurts?" Girardi said. "He said I'm OK. He finally said he felt something in his elbow."
Mookie Betts had two doubles for Boston before leaving with right calf tightness.
At the beginning of his pregame media session, Girardi said Rodriguez will be in the starting lineup Thursday despite Boston scratching knuckleballer Steven Wright.
New York said Sunday that Rodriguez, a 41-year-old designated hitter with 696 home runs, will be released following Friday's homestand opener against Tampa Bay.
Girardi said he "made a mistake" by saying on Sunday that if Rodriguez wanted to play in all remaining games before his release that he would try to get him in the games.
"I talked to him again on Tuesday about it and said: This is what my plans were," Girardi explained. "I knew he didn't like it. But, again, I have a responsibility to the game of baseball. No one individual is ever bigger than this game. No one. No one. No one.
"And I'm not going to forget about it -- as much as we've been through together. It's hard. Believe me, it's really hard."
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5) will start for Boston on Thursday because Wright jammed his right shoulder while diving into a base as pinch runner against the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend.
"It's about winning the games," Girardi said when asked if he liked the matchup. "That's what it's always about here. It'll continue to be that way."
Girardi then answered about 12 minutes of questions why A-Rod wasn't starting the first two games of the series.
"You could say what you want, there's a lot of relationships involved here and it bothers me sometimes because people say one thing to do and because it becomes controversial they say another and it's difficult," Girardi said. "When we look at this decision, we're basing it on a substantial amount of at-bats -- and it's not what we want. I think our hope is he'd hit 30 home runs again, but that hasn't been the case this year."
Girardi said he understands some may consider him a `bad guy' for not playing A-Rod.
"It is what it is," he said. "It's part of the job, I guess."
Girardi explained further that Boston was in the AL East race and Tampa Bay was out of it, justifying his decision to start Rodriguez on Friday.
"My job is to put out what I feel is the best lineup, and that's what I'm trying to do," Girardi said. "It's been difficult."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: OF Chris Young (strained right hamstring) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket. Farrell said he'd "probably have a minimum of 20, 25 at-bats."... OF/C Blake Swihart will have season-ending surgery on his left ankle Monday. Farrell said Swihart will have a three-to-four month recovery.
UP NEXT
RHP Michael Pineda (6-10) starts Thursday for the Yankees.
7:00PM,EDT,August 10,2016
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Drew Pomeranz pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Gardner reached on infield single to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Ellsbury sacrificed to pitcher, Gardner to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Headley struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Teixeira struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Pedroia flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Bogaerts grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Betts flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Drew Pomeranz pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Castro grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Gregorius struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Sánchez grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Chasen Shreve pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Shreve relieved Eovaldi. | 0 | 0 |
| Ortiz walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Ramírez popped out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Bradley Jr. flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Shaw grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Drew Pomeranz pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Romine grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Hicks grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Gardner fouled out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Chasen Shreve pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| León reached on infield single to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Benintendi bunt popped out foul to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Pedroia doubled to left, León to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Bogaerts hit by pitch. | 0 | 0 |
| Parker relieved Shreve. | 0 | 0 |
| Betts grounded into fielder's choice to second, León scored, Bogaerts out at second, Pedroia to third. | 0 | 1 |
| Ortiz flied out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Drew Pomeranz pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Ellsbury grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Headley grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| Teixeira singled to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Castro struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Blake Parker pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Ramírez flied out to right. | 0 | 1 |
| Bradley Jr. singled to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Shaw walked, Bradley Jr. to second. | 0 | 1 |
| León singled to right, Bradley Jr. to third, Shaw to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Benintendi grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Bradley Jr. scored, León out at second, Shaw to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Goody relieved Parker. | 0 | 2 |
| Pedroia popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Drew Pomeranz pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Gregorius homered to right center (389 feet). | 1 | 2 |
| Sánchez singled to deep center. | 1 | 2 |
| Romine singled to left, Sánchez to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Hicks struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Gardner grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Romine out at second. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Nick Goody pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Bogaerts walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Betts doubled to left, Bogaerts to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Ortiz intentionally walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Ramírez flied out to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Layne relieved Goody. | 1 | 2 |
| Bradley Jr. fouled out to first. | 1 | 2 |
| Hill hit for Shaw. | 1 | 2 |
| Hill struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Drew Pomeranz pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Hill at third base. | 1 | 2 |
| Ellsbury popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Headley singled to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Teixeira walked, Headley to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Buchholz relieved Pomeranz. | 1 | 2 |
| Castro grounded into double play, third to second to first, Teixeira out at second. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Tommy Layne pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| León walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Benintendi singled to right, León to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Clippard relieved Layne. | 1 | 2 |
| Pedroia singled to left, León scored, Benintendi to third. | 1 | 3 |
| Bogaerts grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Benintendi scored, Pedroia out at second. | 1 | 4 |
| Betts doubled to deep center, Bogaerts thrown out at home. | 1 | 4 |
| Ortiz intentionally walked. | 1 | 4 |
| Betts to third, Ortiz to second on wild pitch by Clippard. | 1 | 4 |
| Ramírez flied out to left. | 1 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Matt Barnes pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Barnes relieved Buchholz. | 1 | 4 |
| Gregorius singled to center. | 1 | 4 |
| Sánchez singled to left, Gregorius to second. | 1 | 4 |
| Romine singled to left, Gregorius scored, Sánchez to second. | 2 | 4 |
| Rodriguez hit for Hicks. | 2 | 4 |
| Rodriguez flied out to right, Sánchez to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Abad relieved Barnes. | 2 | 4 |
| Gardner struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Ellsbury singled to right, Sánchez scored, Romine to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Headley singled to left, Romine scored, Ellsbury to second. | 4 | 4 |
| Tazawa relieved Abad. | 4 | 4 |
| Teixeira walked, Ellsbury to third, Headley to second. | 4 | 4 |
| Castro doubled to left, Ellsbury and Headley scored, Teixeira to third. | 6 | 4 |
| Gregorius popped out to third. | 6 | 4 |
| 5 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Clippard pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Refsnyder in right field. | 6 | 4 |
| Bradley Jr. singled to left. | 6 | 4 |
| Warren relieved Clippard. | 6 | 4 |
| Hill struck out looking. | 6 | 4 |
| León struck out swinging. | 6 | 4 |
| Benintendi lined out to pitcher. | 6 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Junichi Tazawa pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Holt in right field. | 6 | 4 |
| Sánchez homered to center (423 feet). | 7 | 4 |
| Romine walked. | 7 | 4 |
| Ross Jr. relieved Tazawa. | 7 | 4 |
| Refsnyder singled to center, Romine to second. | 7 | 4 |
| Romine to third, Refsnyder to second on wild pitch by Ross Jr.. | 7 | 4 |
| Gardner flied out to left. | 7 | 4 |
| Ellsbury walked. | 7 | 4 |
| Romine scored, Refsnyder to third, Ellsbury to second on wild pitch by Ross Jr.. | 8 | 4 |
| Headley fouled out to first. | 8 | 4 |
| Refsnyder scored, Ellsbury to third on wild pitch by Ross Jr.. | 9 | 4 |
| Teixeira struck out swinging. | 9 | 4 |
| 3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Adam Warren pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Pedroia popped out to second. | 9 | 4 |
| Bogaerts flied out to left. | 9 | 4 |
| Holt flied out to left. | 9 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Brad Ziegler pitching for Boston | NYY | BOS |
| Ziegler relieved Ross Jr.. | 9 | 4 |
| Castro grounded out to third. | 9 | 4 |
| Gregorius grounded out to second. | 9 | 4 |
| Sánchez singled to left. | 9 | 4 |
| Romine flied out to right. | 9 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Dellin Betances pitching for New York | NYY | BOS |
| Betances relieved Warren. | 9 | 4 |
| Brentz hit for Ortiz. | 9 | 4 |
| Brentz struck out swinging. | 9 | 4 |
| Ramírez struck out looking. | 9 | 4 |
| Bradley Jr. grounded out to first. | 9 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York Yankees
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner LF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | .265 | .353 | .383 |
| Ellsbury CF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .272 | .337 | .370 |
| Headley 3B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28 | .257 | .331 | .388 |
| Teixeira 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 30 | .198 | .288 | .337 |
| Castro 2B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .258 | .297 | .399 |
| Gregorius SS | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .286 | .315 | .458 |
| Sánchez DH | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .321 | .345 | .536 |
| Romine C | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 | .252 | .274 | .402 |
| Hicks RF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .191 | .254 | .297 |
a-Rodriguez PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .203 | .251 | .355 |
Refsnyder RF
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .264 | .336 | .328 |
| Totals | 39 | 9 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 180 | |||
| a-flied out to right for A Hicks in the 7th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Castro (21, Tazawa) HR: Gregorius (14, 5th inning off Pomeranz 0 on, 0 Out); Sánchez (1, 8th inning off Tazawa 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Gregorius (50), Romine (19), Ellsbury (36), Headley (39), Castro 2 (48), Sánchez (4) S: Ellsbury 2-out RBI: Ellsbury, Headley, Castro 2 GIDP: Gardner, Castro Yankees RISP: 4-15 (Headley 1-3, Rodriguez 0-1, Gregorius 0-1, Romine 1-1, Hicks 0-1, Ellsbury 1-1, Castro 1-2, Gardner 0-3, Teixeira 0-2) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING Outfield Assist: Ellsbury (Bogaerts at Home). | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| DH ORTIZ (LEG) LEFT GAME BOT 9TH |
| RF BETTS (RIGHT CALF TIGHTNESS) LEFT GAME TOP 8TH |
| SP EOVALDI (RIGHT ELBOW DISCOMFORT) LEFT GAME BOT 2ND |
Game Information
| Stadium | Fenway Park, Boston, MA |
| Attendance | 37,779 (100.3% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 4:15 |
| Weather | 79 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 12 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Brian Knight, First Base - Tony Randazzo, Second Base - Bill Miller, Third Base - Todd Tichenor |
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