“I was, ‘Oh, man, I’ve just got to make contact now, ‘” said Aaron Judge, about to hit in the big leagues for the first time.
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Rodriguez’s finale was seen by a season-high 368,000 viewers on the Yankees’ YES Network, opposite the Olympics, a Mets-Padres game and the New York Giants’ NFL preseason game. Saturday marked the first time since 1969 (C John Ellis and CF Jim Lyttle) that NY started two players making their major league debuts.2. Odorizzi struggles with Brian McCann (12-for-26, three home runs, 10 RBIs) but fares well against Jacoby Ellsbury and Chase Headley (combined.213 average in 47 at-bats).Severino yielded five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-3 loss in Boston on Tuesday, prompting a demotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to work on his off-speed pitches.
He will be cut Saturday by a Yankees team pivoting to youth.
The Yankees can get their fifth straight win on Sunday when they conclude a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.
Girardi refused to play him in all three games at Fenway Park, his final road trip, and A-Rod admitted his relationship with the manager had been “awkward and difficult” of late. “I disappointed a lot of people but this feels good”, Rodriguez said after the game. Manager Joe Girardi allowed A-Rod to take the field at third base in top of the 9th inning for a single out so he could come off to an ovation, after declining A-Rod’s request to play the field for the whole game. So, listen, I think the fans are going to remember that.
With the Bleacher Creatures chanting his name during the traditional roll call and the rest of the fans joining in, Rodriguez raised his cap toward them from the dugout.
“I was trying to be kind of humble and reserved about it before”, the Tampa Bay pitcher said. In short, he’s grown up right before our eyes over the last couple of years beginning with how he served that humiliating suspension at a time when it was clear his body was breaking down and he didn’t have much time left. But, as has been the case with the infielder’s career, something was just a bit off.
Rodriguez was a supporting actor in the Jeter-Rivera epoch, and when the stars left the cast he could not carry the show.
“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. Going to another team to get four more home runs under his belt and join Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth, in that very exclusive 700 club, might prove very tempting. He hasn’t said he’ll definitely retire.
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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.
