As for the crowd itself it was insane and it was a sellout crowd of 46.459 to see Alex Rodriguez play his final game.
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The 41-year-old designated hitter went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in his finale Friday night, a 6-3 win over Tampa Bay. He got video tributes and wild cheers and pregame accolades from the usual coterie of Yankees greats – in particular, former teammates Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, the latter of whom was also on hand for the rain-interrupted ceremony – but there was a pervading sense that Rodriguez didn’t want to go, that he felt he still had something to offer even though the Yankees had made it clear that they didn’t believe that he did.
Receiving their first recognition from the Bleacher Creatures in the game-opening roll call, they joined 23-year-old catcher Gary Sanchez, who entered the game hitting.357 (10 for 28) with three doubles, a home run and four RBIs since he was brought up August 3.
Starlin Castro had four RBIs for the Yankees, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the sixth off Archer (6-16) that gave CC Sabathia (7-9) his second win since mid-June.
I believe Rodriguez is up to the challenge and by all accounts identifying talent and developing said talent is one of Rodriguez’s innate strengths. He shifted to third base in the ninth inning and left with one out to a nice ovation.
Rodriguez had slept late, ate his egg whites, stretched and took one final trip to the ballpark Stadium as a NY player. The Yankees won 6-3. But the festivities seemed as much an exile as a celebration.
Rodriguez stands with his daughters Natasha and Ella, as he looks at an autographed base given to him by the team during a presentation in his honor.
Steinbrenner told him on August 3 the end was at hand, and Rodriguez said last Sunday he had accepted an offer to play one final home game and then become a team adviser through 2017, tasked with mentoring young players.
NY got home runs from Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge on their first major league at-bats.
Despite the awkward release/retirement that ended Rodriguez’s tenure with the Yankees-and until otherwise noted, his career-Girardi tearfully said at a press conference after the game that, “If this is the last time he [A-Rod] plays, I wanted it to be something he never forgot”.
The 26-year-old IL native pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings in the Rays’ 5-1 victory over NY on July 29, improving to 4-5 with a 4.23 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) versus the Yankees – 1-1, 1.32 this season.
He was batting.200 and said he’s unsure whether he’ll play again.
The Yankees will be releasing Rodriguez after Friday’s game.
“With all my screw-ups and how badly I acted, the fact that I’m walking out the door, Hal wants me as part of the family, that’s hitting 800 home runs for me”, Rodriguez said.
New York’s move Saturday leaves the team responsible for $27,103,825 remaining in his $275 million, 10-year contract. He hasn’t said he’ll definitely retire.
“I’m excited to see all these guys that I watched on TV in October”, Judge said.
Royals 7, Twins 3: Yordano Ventura won consecutive starts for the first time in two months, and Kendrys Morales homered in his return from a one-game suspension for Kansas City.
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The two newcomers joined 23-year-old catcher Gary Sanchez, hitting.313 (10 for 32) with three doubles, a home run and four RBIs since he was brought up August 3.
