Game 67 | 37-30, 2nd : The real story tonight was the Adam Warren-led Yankee victory that ensured the club kept pace with the Tampa Bay Rays in their improbable early season success. Alex Rodriguez slammed his 3,000th career hit — a home run against Detroit ace Justin Verlander.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Yankees 7, Tigers 2
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- Adam Warren Warren went 8 strong innings on 110 pitches, the longest outing of his career.
- Alex Rodriguez A-Rod joined some heady company tonight on a few levels. Not only hitting a home run for his 3,000th — something only 2 other players have done (Derek Jeter and Wade Boggs), but joining one of the most exclusive clubs in the game. The only players now with 3,000 hits, 600 home runs and 2,000 RBI are Hammerin’ Hank Aaron and Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez.
- Brett Gardner Huge night for heart and soul of the 2015 Yankees. Gardy went 4-5, hitting the tie-breaking and eventual game winning knock with his second 2-run homer in two nights at The Stadium.
- Didi Gregorius No sweeter sound than a John Sterling home run call for Didi — just because! Gregorius launched a solo shot off Verlander in the second inning, his 3th of the year, to knot the game at 2, which was huge at the moment.
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- Haters Not to regurgitate the juice/asterisk debate, but if the image of Barry Bonds is being rehabilitated and welcomed back to Major League Baseball with open arms, don’t look at me with a straight face and say A-Rod’s numbers should be questioned. The ‘illegitimate’ numbers angle was all over online sports ‘journalism’ in recent days as A-Rod closed in on the magic number, and within minutes of the hit itself. Some have reasoned takes worth debate, others are amateur-hour hit pieces from A-Rod and/or Yankee haters.
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“I’m grateful. I’m extremely appreciative to the Yankees giving me an opportunity to put the uniform back on. There were days last year that I sometimes never thought I would get that uniform back on. To be able to play in this stadium in front of these fans, I’m thankful to the Steinbrenner family and the whole Yankee organization” ‐ Alex Rodriguez (h/t: Bryan Hoch and Alden Woods / MLB.com)
FOOTNOTES : Sergio, we hardly knew ye. After two brief appearances, recently signed Sergio Santos is already on the DL with a shoulder strain. According roster moves included Chris Martin being sent back down to SWB, and Brian Mitchell recalled to the 40-man …
