Alex Rodriguez’s resurgence continues with three-homer game in Minnesota
The incredible comeback season of Alex Rodriguez reached a new level on Saturday. The New York Yankees designed hitter connected for three home runs in their come-from-behind 8-5 victory against the Minnesota Twins, including the game-tying solo shot off All-Star closer Glen Perkins in the ninth inning.
The three-homer game was the fifth of Rodriguez’s now 21-year career. At 39 years and 363 days, he also became the fifth oldest player to hit three home runs in a single game.
That’s right, A-Rod will turn 40 on Monday when the Yankees visit the Texas Rangers in Arlington.
If you had to guess by how he’s swinging though, you might think A-Rod was only pushing 30. He looks that good, that strong and that quick at the plate. You’d never know he missed nearly a year and a half while suspended. You’d never guess he’s had multiple hip surgeries. He’s the same dangerous Alex Rodriguez from years gone by.
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In Saturday’s win, he was basically a one-man wrecking crew. WIth New York trailing 5-0 in the fourth inning, he got them on the board with a mammoth 452-foot blast to the upper deck at Target Field.
That’s big boy territory, and somewhat surprisingly it was a career first for Rodriguez.
That was actually New York’s only hit against Twins start Tommy Milone until the seventh inning, when A-Rod homered again. This time it was a two-run shot cutting the lead to 5-3. In the same inning, New York’s other great comeback story Mark Teixeira doubled home one to cut the deficit to one.
That set the stage for New York’s dramatic ninth inning, which A-Rod led off by smacking a 424-foot drive to center field to even the score. Perkins never recovered, allowing singles to Mark Teixeira and Chase Headley before John Ryan Murphy muscled to hit the go-ahead three-run homer. That part was not expected at all, as Murphy only hit one major-league home run prior to that swing.
That’s a moment Murphy will never forget, but it all comes back around to A-Rod. On the season, he’s up to 23 home runs with 66 games left on the Yankees scheduled. A 30-homer season is now likely, and 100 RBIs isn’t completely out of the question either if he gets hot. He’s currently sitting on 58.
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Honestly, if you told the Yankees he’d hit 15 homers and drive in 60 for the entire season, they probably would have taken it no questions asked. Now they’re getting it, and more, and it’s a big reason they hold a 5 1/2 game lead in the AL East.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
