Alex Rodriguez moves closer to 700 homers.
photo by Tim Evearitt
BOSTON -- The memories remain vivid for Alex Rodriguez all this time later, walking through the red-brick corridors of Fenway Park as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, waving to family members in the crowd and being excited to share the field with Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez.
Much has changed since then, and Rodriguez spent part of his afternoon Friday acknowledging the regrets of the years that have passed. He walked out those same doors hours later with a piece of history, hitting his 660th home run and tying Willie Mays for fourth place on the home run list in the Yankees' 3-2 victory over the Red Sox.
Hearing deafening boos after being announced as an eighth-inning pinch-hitter for Garrett Jones, Rodriguez worked the count to 3-0 against Red Sox right-hander Junichi Tazawa before looking down the third-base line and picking up a green light.
Tazawa fired a 94-mph fastball and Rodriguez unloaded on it, lining a laser above the Green Monster in left field, where it was retrieved by a fan in the third row. It marked the first pinch-hit homer of Rodriguez's career.
"Congratulations to Alex Rodriguez on his 660th home run," Mays said in a statement. "Milestones in baseball are meant to be broken and I wish him continued success throughout his career."
Rodriguez's home run left the bat at 117 mph and traveled a distance of 419 feet as tracked by Statcast, with a launch angle of 19 degrees. Led by manager Joe Girardi, Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira, many of Rodriguez's teammates applauded the blast.
The homer promises to set up a debate between Rodriguez and the Yankees regarding its standing as a "milestone" homer. There was no special in-stadium announcement to mark the occasion, though Rodriguez's home run total and the fact that he tied Mays were announced in the Fenway Park press box.
Rodriguez's contract contains a $6 million incentive clause for tying Mays, as well as Babe Ruth (714), Henry Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762), plus an additional $6 million if he were to become the all-time home run leader. The Yankees contend that they cannot market those achievements due to Rodriguez's history with PEDs and last year's historic suspension.
--- Source: MLB.com