Alex Rodriguez hit his 24th home run of the season and 678th of his career to lead the AL East leading Yankees past the Texas Rangers 6-2 in Arlington.
A-Rod homers on 40th birthday to lead Yankees past Rangers
On a 99 degree night in Texas, Didi Gregorius also homered and drove in four to increase New York’s lead in the division to seven games over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Ivan Nova pitched five effective innings for his third win of the season. Leoyns Martin and Elvis Andrus each drove in a run for Texas. Matt Harrison, making only his 3rd start of the season, went six innings and gave up all six runs to take the loss for the Rangers.
Rodriguez’ opposite field, line drive blast in the sixth inning extended the Yankees lead to 4-2 and broke a tie with three other players as it was his sixth career birthday dinger.
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Earlier in the day, Rodriguez had told ESPN that he planned to celebrate the evening with his daughters and teammates after the game.
“My girls will be there. I have some friends flying in. We will have a little celebration.” said Rodriguez.
“After the game, my daughter and my teammates are going to do a little something.”
The home run, and the win certainly should give them a little bit more to celebrate this evening.
Rodriguez is just the fourth player in MLB history to have a home run while still a teenager and one in his 40s. Ty Cobb, Rusty Staub, and Gary Sheffield are the only others.
Main Photo:
Main Photo Caption: ARLINGTON, TX – JULY 27: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers in the top of the sixth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 27, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
