‘Disappointed’ A-Rod out of Yankees’ lineup vs Red Sox
Alex Rodriguez said he was “disappointed” not to be in the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday night, especially after Joe Girardi indicated two days earlier that the designated hitter could play as much as he wanted between now and Friday.
Girardi, in walking back his comments, said he was caught up in the “emotion” of Sunday, and that Rodriguez would start only one of the games at Fenway Park, Thursday night against knuckleballer Steven Wright.
“When I heard him say that I can actually play in all four games, I was really excited to get to some at-bats, and uh, I don’t know what happened,” Rodriguez said Tuesday. “I guess I play on Thursday.”
Girardi said the bottom line, as he told Rodriguez, is putting the best team on the field. The Yankees made it clear starting in June and in the days leading up to the August 1 trade deadline that they didn’t think Rodriguez fit into that.
Ignoring a “We want A-Rod” chant from the Fenway Park crowd, Girardi did not use Rodriguez in the Yankees’ 5-3 loss to the Red Sox.
Rodriguez has 696 homers, fourth all-time, but has only a .204/.252/.356 slash line in 62 games this season, with nine homers and 29 RBIs. He has had only seven plate appearances since July 29.
He is slated to start Friday night’s game at the Stadium against the Rays. After that he will be unconditionally released, then sign a contract with the club to serve as a “special adviser and instructor,” reporting directly to managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner.
There has been speculation that the 41-year-old Rodriguez might try to hook on with another club, and neither he nor those around him have done much to knock it down.
It’s an awkward place. Girardi counting the minutes until A-Rod’s gone, and becoming less guarded about sharing that sentiment. Rodriguez, ironically, feeling cheated. Maybe his real retirement, from the next team, will go more smoothly.
“I think I can still play,” Rodriguez said.
Too bad the guy writing the Yankees’ lineup card doesn’t think so. (Newsday/TNS)
Cubs 5, Angels 1
John Lackey allowed three hits in eight innings, and Willson Contreras and Kris Bryant each added solo home runs as Chicago beat Los Angeles in the series opener for its eighth straight win.
Lackey (9-7) surrendered a first-inning home run and little else while walking one and striking out six in his fourth eight-inning effort of the season.
Rays 9, Blue Jays 2
Evan Longoria had three RBIs, Logan Forsythe added a homer and two RBIs, Drew Smyly pitched six effective innings and Tampa Bay defeated Toronto.
Smyly (4-11) allowed six hits, three walks and two runs while striking out two in six innings for his second straight win.
Rangers 7, Rockies 5
Texas won its fourth straight game, scoring four times in the eighth inning with Elvis Andrus driving in the go-ahead run with a two-out single against Colorado.
The loss was the third straight for the Rockies, who concluded a 3-5 homestand. The Rangers ended a 5-3 road trip and head home, where they are 34-17 and will play 30 of their final 48 games.
A’s 2, Orioles 1
Rookie Zach Neal allowed one run over 51/3 innings in his second career major league start as Oakland defeated Baltimore.
Neal (2-1) gave up two hits, struck out one, walked none and threw just 72 pitches.
Dodgers 9, Phillies 3
Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner homered, and Los Angeles pulled into a first-place tie atop the NL West by beating Philadelphia.
The Dodgers won their fourth straight to match the San Francisco Giants for the division lead. The Phillies lost for the third time in four games.
Kenta Maeda (11-7) yielded six hits and three runs in five innings.
Mariners 6, Tigers 5 (15)
Kyle Seager delivered score-tying hits in the eighth and 15th innings before Seattle teammate Mike Zunino drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 15th as the Mariners rallied to beat Detroit.
Seager’s three-run homer in the eighth inning tied the score 4-4 and he added a one-out, RBI single in the bottom of the 15th, deadlocking the game at 5-5.
An error by Detroit outfielder Justin Upton allowed base runner Adam Lind to move to third and he then scored easily on Zunino’s fly ball to center.
White Sox 7, Royals 5 (10)
Todd Frazier belted a three-run homer in the 10th inning to propel Chicago over Kansas City.
The Royals tied it in the ninth off closer David Robertson, who yielded a leadoff single to Kendrys Morales. Jarrod Dyson ran for Morales and stole second and scored on Alcides Escobar’s twoout single.
Frazier untied it in the 10th with his 31st home run of the season, which is tied for the American League lead. (Reuters)