FIRST FORAY

FIRST INNING

Naturally, the first fair ball of the game goes right to Rodriguez — Brock Holt hits a 1-1 pitch for a grounder to the first baseman, who fields it flawlessly and runs to the bag for the first out. He also catches Gregorio Petit's throw on a David Ortiz's 4-3 that ends the frame.

SECOND INNING

Mike Napoli hits a grounder to Didi Gregorius' right, and Gregorius fields it cleanly and makes a strong throw. But A-Rod can’t catch it — he apparently misjudged it and it hits the heel of his glove for his first career E-3.

The next ball is a soft grounder to Chase Headley, so A-Rod is back to work — he catches this throw. Allen Craig then hits an even slower grounder to Headley, who bare-hands it. A-Rod catches this throw, too.

Napoli later scores, meaning A-Rod's gaffe leads to an unearned run.

Said Rodriguez: “One of the things I’m going to have to

continue to work on — you have to know your infielders, just like a catcher knows the pitchers, arm strength, how their ball moves differently, and that’s going to be my job, to realize what the pattern is.”

THIRD INNING

Rodriguez fields a throw from Petit on a 4-3 for the first out and is the recipient of a relay to complete a 5-4-3 double play.

FOURTH INNING

David Ortiz, A-Rod's frenemy these days, leads off by whacking a grounder toward first. Rodriguez makes the easy play and touches the bag. Then he catches Gregorius' throw after a Napoli

grounder.

It is a relatively quiet inning in an action-packed game for A-Rod — he catches the relay on a 4-6-3 double play.

SIXTH INNING

Napoli leads off with a comebacker to Warren, who throws to A-Rod for the out. Then Rodriguez fields a grounder by Pablo Sandoval for a 3-unassisted.

Rodriguez catches throws on a 6-3 and a 4-3 for the last two outs of the inning.

Rodriguez catches a throw from Gregorius for the first out and then is involved in a replay challenge. He stretches to snare Headley's throw and the Red Sox challenge whether he had kept his foot on the bag — he did not. A two-minute, 18-second review puts Daniel Nava on first and Headley is charged with a throwing error. A-Rod later catches a throw from Headley to end the inning.

NINTH INNING

Rodriguez handles a throw from Gregorius without incident, ending the inning, and his rough day at first.

“There was a lot of action over there today,” he said. “My head is spinning.”