Rodriguez is set to play his final game for NY on Friday night at Yankee Stadium against Tampa Bay. A-Rod asked manager Joe Girardi to play third base in his NY finale but was denied. Asked whether he views Friday as his final game as a Yankee or the final game of his career, he hinted at the latter.
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Girardi indicated that Rodriguez’s lack of work in the field – he hasn’t played there since May 23, 2015 – and the Yankees’ continued pursuit of a wild card spot were enough for him to veto the idea.
Rodriguez still believes he can play, but said Thursday that he’s been focused on his final days as a Yankee. “It’s not that I wouldn’t like to see it, but we’re in a part of the season where we are trying to win. I think we have a good chance to be out there and play like we played the first couple of months, and we all know that we can do it”.
Prior to his final road game as a Yankee, Rodriguez sneaked inside the Green Monster.
The 40-year-old Rodriguez has logged 22 seasons in the big leagues since breaking onto the scene as an 18-year-old with the Seattle Mariners in 1994.
Half of the Yankees’ six hits came in that inning, but the key play was a Jacoby Ellsbury fly ball that Red Sox rookie Andrew Benintendi misplayed in left.
The RBI for Rodriguez came after the Red Sox intentionally walked Chase Headley with one out. New York RHP Nathan Eovaldi underwent an MRI exam Thursday and will seek a second opinion after leaving Wednesday’s start with right elbow discomfort. Betances had runners at the corners with one out after giving up a walk and then a double to Leon before striking out Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts to end it.
For Rodriguez, it marked one of his most dominant starts this season with his only run allowed on a solo homer in the third inning off the bat of Austin Romine.
Honestly, I haven’t thought about it. Derek reached out, he congratulated me, but my inbox is completely full.
“It was a fun request and I don’t have any problem with Joe saying no on that”, Rodriguez said of this week’s events.
The reliever got a strikeout to end the inning but not before the damage was done.
However, there isn’t any evidence yet that they will try to sign him. He said if he ever decides to play for another team, he will first consult with Steinbrenner.
Rodriguez handed over a bat to a young boy he said he made a deal with in the first inning. The kid would get the bat if Rodriguez homered, got two hits or the Yankees won. “I felt [Wednesday] night I was close, off a tough pitcher”.
Farrell said he got a call from Ortiz on Thursday morning and the retiring slugger said he was OK. Ivan Nova (8-6, 4.83) makes his second start with Pittsburgh since being acquired from the Yankees.
“It was louder than usual”, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez has 696 career home runs – just shy of 700 and fourth on the all-time list behind Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (756) and Barry Bonds (762).
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Yankees: LHP C.C. Sabathia (6-9, 4.18 ERA) starts as the Yankees return to NY for a weekend series against Tampa Bay.
