Alex Rodriguez still chasing first Wellington Phoenix goal as 50th game looms

Alex Rodriguez pleaded with the media not to tell his team-mates about his goal-scoring record. 

The Spanish midfielder looks set to make his 50th appearance for the Wellington Phoenix in their season opener against Melbourne City on Saturday,  

The statistic which hangs over the 23-year-old is the zero goals he has scored in his first 49 games. Even Vince Lia, who has scored only three goals in 195 A-League games, scored in his first season with the Phoenix back in 2007.

Wellington Phoenix player Alex Rodriguez is yet to score in 49 A-League games.

It was something which Rodriguez was well aware of, but something he had kept relatively quiet when asked if his team-mates gave him grief about it.

"No not really, so don't remind them - I think they don't know yet. 

Wellington Phoenix striker Hamish Watson was surprised to hear team-mate Alex Rodriguez had not scored a goal for the club.

"It has been a little bit frustrating [not scoring], but I have been practising my shooting so hopefully I get one soon."

Up next to talk to the media was striker Hamish Watson, who has three goals in his first 10 matches for the club. The question to be asked was obvious: would he be directing some banter Rodriguez's way?

"To be honest with you I didn't know that [he hadn't scored]," Watson said.

"But now that you brought that up I'll go straight in the changing rooms and give him a bit of a go after this."

Despite the friendly ribbing, Watson was backing Rodriguez to break his duck this season.

"Obviously Ernie is telling the midfielders to get into goal-scoring positions, so it's his chance to pop up and get a goal, and I think he's got a few in pre-season so hopefully he can get on in the A-League now."

While Rodriguez was keen to get a goal, he wouldn't mind who gets them on Saturday as long as the team - playing without four of their All Whites - gets a win.

"Obviously they are big players and we will miss not having them, but we've got a big squad and we've been training really hard in the pre-season, so we're feeling confident."

Alex Rodriguez Remains a Lightning Rod Until the Very End

BOSTON — There were no gifts for Alex Rodriguez on Thursday, in his final game in Yankee road grays. So Rodriguez took one for himself before batting practice: the No. 13 from the famous left-field scoreboard at Fenway Park.

“I wanted to spend some time underneath, inside the Green Monster,” he said. “I thought that was cool. I’ve never been there.”

Rodriguez left a gift, too, giving his bat to a young Yankee fan in the stands. The Red Sox fans howled at him, as they always have, and Rodriguez went hitless in four at-bats. His average fell to .199, but a dribbler in front of the plate scored a run in the Yankees’ 4-2 victory.

Now it is back to Yankee Stadium, one last time under the lights on the big Bronx stage. No player can match the marquee value of Rodriguez, with his dazzling highs and confounding lows. He always made you notice him. That was part of his value to the franchise.

When the Yankees signed Rodriguez to his outrageous 10-year, $275 million contract extension in 2007, they did not know he had used steroids in the past and would use them again. But Rodriguez’s fame only rose with his infamy. And fame is essential to the Yankees’ brand.

“He’s always been the lightning rod,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “That’s who he is — and that’s never going to change.”

The curtain now falls on Rodriguez’s playing career for the Yankees. The team decided he had no use as a player, but Hal Steinbrenner granted him an encore so his family could see him play again. A command performance, one night only. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

That is how the Yankees should treat this: as a celebration of a complex character who will remain in the family. Steinbrenner could have simply cut Rodriguez, without keeping him on as an adviser and instructor. The boss wants him to stay.

So why won’t Girardi have more fun with this? Rodriguez asked Girardi on Tuesday if he could play third base in his final game. Girardi said no.

“I totally get the answer,” Rodriguez said. “But obviously, as a Yankee, a big portion of it was playing third base. I thought it would have been fun.”

If Girardi had a sense of the moment, he would have let Rodriguez play shortstop — not third. Remember, in 2004, Rodriguez wanted so badly to be traded to the Yankees that he left his Gold Gloves behind in deference to Derek Jeter, an inferior shortstop but an imperial presence. Rodriguez has never started there for the Yankees, and he never will.

“If he said no at third,” Rodriguez said, laughing, “I wasn’t going to go to short.”

The Yankees will honor Rodriguez with a ceremony before Friday’s game, which will start at 7:35 p.m., a half-hour later than usual. The weather may make them wait longer.

Jeter’s final home game — in 2014, as Rodriguez served his Biogenesis suspension — was also threatened by rain. But it was Jeter, of course, so the skies parted and the hero won the game with a single in the bottom of the ninth.

Girardi did not start Rodriguez in the first two games here this week, reversing his pledge on Sunday to let Rodriguez determine if he would play. Girardi apologized for that, but he makes no apologies for sticking rigidly to his job description: Win games, period.

Never mind that in 2014, Girardi refused to hit Jeter anywhere lower than second, even though Jeter had a meager .304 on-base percentage for the season. Girardi’s bosses traded three stars this summer, but he concedes nothing. Rodriguez will not get a final start at third, because he has not practiced there lately and the games still matter.

“It’s not that I wouldn’t like to see it,” Girardi said, “but we’re in a part of the season where we’re trying to win. We’re still in this.”

It is all so contradictory, though. Rodriguez’s Yankee playing career is on death row, his execution scheduled for late Friday night in the form of his unconditional release. Wherever Girardi plays him, he is using a dead man walking.

At 58-56, the Yankees’ record is only three and a half games behind Boston’s; they may yet escape fourth place. As they try, though, is Rodriguez really a good matchup against the hard sliders of Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer? Again, the contradictions.

“He’s going to play tomorrow; that’s the bottom line,” Girardi said, tersely. “Hopefully he hits a three-run homer.”

If he reprises Thursday’s performance — two infield popouts, a strikeout, and that squibber to the catcher — Rodriguez will be stuck on 696 home runs. But as first reported by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the Miami Marlins are already flirting with the notion of bringing Rodriguez home as a player.

Rodriguez would not discuss that on Thursday, but he did show deference to Steinbrenner.

“Anything that I do,” he said, “I would clear with Hal first.”

Rodriguez’s batting average would indicate he has nothing left. He disputes that — “Look,” he said, “I know I can play baseball” — but maybe the Marlins or another team will have more fun with this than Girardi.

The spectacle of a certified celebrity swinging for the fences, trying to slug a few more homers to pad his grand career total? It’s been done.

On May 25, 1935, as a member of the Boston Braves, Babe Ruth lugged a .153 average into Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. He slammed three home runs that day to give him 714. He never got another hit.

Told about this on Thursday, Rodriguez smiled. The Babe might be beyond him.

“I have enough pressure as it is,” he said.

Actually playing only makes things worse for Alex Rodriguez

How long before Alex Rodriguez is sitting against southpaws, too?

Following back-to-back days on the bench because of consecutive matchups against right-handed starting pitchers, the $20 million part-time designated hitter went 0-for-3 with a meaningless sacrifice fly in his return to the lineup Tuesday night in The Bronx, striking out twice in the Yankees’ 7-1 loss to the Rangers.

Rodriguez entered the game batting .275 against lefties this season with a .837 OPS — he is hitting .200 with a .584 OPS against righties — but the soon-to-be 41-year-old watched his average against southpaws slide to .259 after an underwhelming evening against Texas’ Cole Hamels.

Still, the work ethic of the three-time MVP makes manager Joe Girardi believe Rodriguez can remain an offensive threat.

“He’s trying,” Girardi said. “If you could have [seen] him working [Tuesday morning], you’d have a better understanding as a manager what guys are trying to do. He was in the cage [at] 12 [a.m.], 1 [a.m.].

“I know he’s frustrated. We want him to produce, [but] I’m not discouraged.”

Rodriguez attempted to get off to a fast start, swinging on the first pitch of his first at-bat, but flied out to right field. In his next two appearances at the plate, Rodriguez looked increasingly helpless against Hamels, taking a third strike looking on a fastball over the middle in the third inning before going down swinging in the fifth.

Against lefty reliever Jake Diekman in the eighth inning, Rodriguez, now batting .219 this season, was credited with an RBI on a sacrifice fly, cutting the Rangers lead to 7-1.

Before to the game, Girardi said he believed Rodriguez’s health is not an issue.

“[From] everything that I watch, he is [healthy],” Girardi said. “He’s had no treatment. [There’s] nothing that tells me that he’s hurt. He hasn’t complained about anything.”

That only makes matters worse.

Yankees' Alex Rodriguez giddy after best game since 3-homer showing last July

The beautiful voice of Vin Scully calling a Dodgers game was booming loudly from a nearby clubhouse television late Saturday night as Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez smiled his way through a post-game interview.

The Yankees had just nearly blown one for the ages before hanging out for an 8-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Even though a 7-0 lead through 6 ½ innings turned into 7-6 with six runs in and still nobody out in the Baltimore seventh, the Yankees hanging on allowed A-Rod to focus on the positives.

A-Rod loved seeing his team's offense take another step toward ending what's been more than two months of frustration by making it three five-or-more-runs games in succession for just the second time this season.

And he loved feeling like a big middle-of-the-lineup contributor again.

In five at-bats, A-Rod singled in the fourth, fifth and ninth innings for not only his first three-hit game as a 40-year-old, but his first in 89 games.

His last one had been his three-homer game in Minnesota last July 25.

This one was special, too, but his third hit brought in an insurance run that made it easier for Aroldis Chapman put away Baltimore by working a scoreless ninth.

This one also has A-Rod's average back to the Mendoza Line at an even .200 through 105 at-bats, just the fourth time all season he's been there.

"Something to build on," A-Rod said.

A-Rod was just starting to hit when he suffered a hamstring injury when the Yanks were in Baltimore in May, then after a 22-day DL stint, he looked bad again going 1-for-16 his first four games back.

But he's now hit safely in his last four, going 6-for-17 with a homer to raise his average 30 points.

Is A-Rod back to how he felt at the plate before his injury?

"I've been telling you guys all along I think the last 50 at-bats have been much better than the previous 50 and it's definitely something to build on," he said.

But there was a sizable layoff in the middle of the last 50, he was reminded.

"Yeah, but I feel like I figured out some things right before I got hurt," A-Rod shot back. "Then coming back it took me a few days to warm up, but overall I think I've been just a little bit more consistent."

A-Rod knows he still has a long ways to go to get his average back to respectability, but he's encouraged about his last few days and hopeful he's settling into a hot streak.

"I think overall my at-bats have been getting a little bit better, a little bit more consistent and I'm not trying to do as much at the plate," he said. "I've been working really hard down in the cage. I've been working on some mechanics stuff and overall I feel much better."

Barry Bonds Comments on Alex Rodriguez's Pursuit of Home Run Record

Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds doesn't see his all-time home run record falling anytime soon.

New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez is the only active player with a genuine chance of catching Bonds' career mark of 762 homers. Bonds, however, was dismissive of the possibility, telling the New York Daily News' Christian Red on Monday, "No, not in two years."

Last month, Rodriguez revealed to ESPN.com's Andrew Marchand that he plans to retire following the 2017 season. Should A-Rod stick to his word, Bonds has every right to be skeptical of the future Hall of Famer overtaking him in the record books.

Rodriguez entered Tuesday with 688 career home runs through five games in 2016, so between now and the end of next year, he needs to hit 75 more homers to be the all-time king. Not only will Rodriguez need to remain healthy, but he'll also have to be productive at the plate during his age-40 and age-41 seasons. While he hit 33 home runs in 2015, he had 41 in his three previous seasons combined.

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is second in career home runs (560) among active players, while retiring Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is third (505). Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper are seemingly the only potential threats to Bonds, and that's only by projecting at least a decade down the road.

After Hank Aaron passed Babe Ruth on the home run list, his record stood for 33 years before Bonds broke it in 2007 as the steroid era was drawing to a close in MLB.

If A-Rod is unable to chase down Bonds, it might be a long, long time before anybody comes close to approaching the legendary slugger.

Early look at Alex Rodriguez: Just what Girardi wanted

TAMPA — If anybody tells you they can accurately predict what type of a year Alex Rodriguez is in for after three days of batting practice against coaches and looking at pitches from live arms, they are full of spit.

Because Rodriguez no longer plays the field and doesn’t surface during defensive drills, his hands and feet can’t be judged. He will be 41 in late July. Each hip has been invaded by a surgeon’s knife. Following four solid months, Rodriguez dropped off in the final eight weeks of last season when the Blue Jays roared by the Yankees to win the AL East.

Yet, when the Yankees’ lineup is posted in the clubhouse on Opening Day against the Astros at Yankee Stadium, the fourth-leading home run hitter in baseball history likely will be in the third spot, between Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira.

That automatically tells you the Yankees are counting on production from the full-time designated hitter. Manager Joe Girardi might not start him in 136 games at DH like a year ago, but Rodriguez’s muscle is vital to a lineup that likely will be asked to cover up the sins of a rotation loaded with questions.

To an eye trained and paid to evaluate every twitch coming from all 69 players walking the grounds of George M. Steinbrenner Field, Rodriguez is ahead of where he was last February, when he returned from a one-year suspension for swimming in the Biogenesis sewer.

“I think he is a little further along at this point than he was last year,’’ Girardi said following Saturday’s workout. “He has a better understanding of what it takes to be a DH and what he needs to do.’’

In last year’s camp, Rodriguez was a regular participant at third base and in the defensive drills and took some ground balls at first base. This year Rodriguez isn’t present on the two diamonds the Yankees use for those same drills. When the infielders are done they move to batting practice. That’s when Rodriguez surfaces from the first base dugout on the main field.

He was spotted wearing a fielder’s glove briefly Thursday, the first day of full-squad workouts. But since then the only thing in Rodriguez’s hand has been a bat.

Girardi said he believes Rodriguez, who was 39 last spring, was affected by being asked to do more than hit. As it turned out, that work was in vain because of the 151 games Rodriguez appeared in, 136 were starts as the DH.

“We were trying to run him out to the field and there were things that we were doing last year and I think he got sore a little bit at times like any normal infielder would,’’ Girardi said. “But he doesn’t have to deal with it this year.

What Rodriguez does have to deal with is expectations after being gone for the entire 2014 season and returning to hit .250 with 33 homers, 86 RBIs and an OPS of .842 in 2015 that very few saw coming.

But that’s for April. February still has life and March awaits. Nobody knows what the six-month season will bring from Rodriguez, but the guy who gets paid to analyze believes the DH looks fine physically and ahead of where he was a year ago.

How Yankees' Alex Rodriguez already opened Joe Girardi's eyes

Just fours days into position player workouts and Yankees manager Joe Girardi already likes what he sees from Alex Rodriguez.

And, actually, Girardi said he believes Rodriguez looks better than he did this time last year. 

"He's probably a little bit further along this point than he was last year," Girardi told reporters Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. "But I think he has a better understanding of what it took and what it takes and what he needs to be able to do."

Last season, nobody in the organization would admit to having expectations for A-Rod.

Rodriguez hadn't played in a year, thanks to an unprecedented performance-enhancing drug suspension.

He was also not far from turning 40 years old and he has two surgically repaired hips.

But it all worked out, and then some. As the Yankees' full-time designated hitter for the first time in his career, Rodriguez helped carry the lineup through the first half and through July. But he got exhausted in August and played poorly in September, leading to a rough end. Still, Rodriguez clobbered 33 homers, drove in 86 runs and hit .250 — way better statistics than many projected.

Now, Girardi said, he looks even better. One of the reasons, the manager said, is because Rodriguez knows what he has to do to stay fresh in his new role as DH.

"We were trying and running him out to the field last year," Girardi said, "and there were things that we were doing — I think he got a little bit sore at times. Just like any normal infielder would. But he doesn't have to deal with that this year."

Rodriguez's batting practice sessions have drawn the most attention out of anybody's in camp. Not just for fans, either. Coaches and front office members have lined the team's batting cage to watch the 40-year-old's swing.

"He's ready to go," Girardi said. "He looks healthy. He's strong."

New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez Looking to Build on “Cinderella-Type Season”

New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez has wasted no time preparing for the 2016 season, having already resumed baseball-related activities in the hopes of building on what he called termed "Cinderella-type season" in 2015.

The 40-year-old Rodriguez, who was suspended for the entire 2014 season, came back and wasn't even a lock to make the team out of Spring Training. However, he managed to secure himself a job with the bat and went on to hit .250 with 33 homeruns and 86 RBI. And while he fell short of Comeback Player of the Year, he proved he still had plenty of gas left in the tank.

Heading into 2016, A-Rod will not only look to raise his batting average, but drive in more runs. Ideally, hitting in either the No. 3 or No. 4 spot, he'd drive in 100+ runs and provide a few more opportunities for those hitting behind him.

Just as it was a year ago, the Yankees will move forward with a key piece they didn't initially expect to have.

Alex Rodriguez hopes to build off 'Cinderella-type season' in 2016

No one was more surprised with Alex Rodriguez's comeback season last year than the man himself.

At 40 years old, A-Rod belted 33 homers, drove in 86 runs and played more than 150 games for the first time since 2007.
"I think that's probably the biggest surprise the whole year for everyone. I certainly didn't think in spring training that I would come close to playing 150 times, and I'm grateful for that," Rodriguez said after the Yankees' loss in the 2015 Wild Card playoff.
"I never thought I would be able to come back and play baseball and have so much fun."
Part of that success can be attributed to his new role as the Yankees' everyday designated hitter, a move that Rodriguez has embraced as he looks forward to his 22nd MLB season.
Alex set the bar quite high for himself, but he voiced his desire to build off his impressive 2015 campaign while speaking at a holiday concert hosted by the Steinbrenner family in Tampa Bay last Tuesday.
''A Cinderella-type season,'' Rodriguez said, referring to last year. ''In so many ways a dream season. I'm just so fortunate to be back, and be welcomed by, obviously, the Steinbrenners, all my teammates, the fans of New York. I'm look forward to building on that."
Rodriguez was a .278 hitter over the first half of last season, finishing the year with a .250 clip. His power numbers remained consistent, as he blasted a team-leading 15 homers after the All-Star break. His slugging percentage of .486 was the highest it's been in five years, and Rodriguez earned a nomination for MLB's Comeback Player of the Year award for the American League.
The Yankees welcomed their latest acquisition, Starlin Castro, to the team on Tuesday, and perhaps Rodriguez will be able to share his knowledge of the game with the young second baseman, just as Alfonso Soriano did when he was a Cub.
"I challenge you one day when you're old like me, when you are successful and you're making an impact, to come back on days like this and pay it forward," Rodriguez said to 1,500 grade school students at Tuesday's holiday concert.
Though A-Rod was referring to educational skills like reading and writing with his quote, the same words could also translate to what he'll be doing in the clubhouse next season with the newest batch of young Yankees.

Yankees' Alex Rodriguez glad dark days are over and done with

From the first day of spring training, Alex Rodriguez said over and over that he simply wanted to make the team, then do his part to help the Yankees get back to the postseason.

Thursday, A-Rod and his teammates were bathing each other in champagne after clinching an American League wild card berth with a win over the Red Sox.

“With all the stuff I went through in 2014, I talk about how dark those days were,” A-Rod said, referring to his one-year drug suspension. “To come back this year and be part of such a special team, such a special group of guys, we truly are a family and we’ve built a great brotherhood in here.”

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A-Rod was part of the 2009 World Series team, so he knows the challenge that stands ahead of the Yankees. That challenge will include an extra game this season as the Yankees will play a one-game, wild-card playoff Tuesday night, but unlike 20 other teams in the majors, the Yankees have a chance to play beyond this weekend.

“You’re in the dance, anything can happen,” Rodriguez said. “I think any team that gets in is capable of winning a championship.”

WARREN COMMISSIONED

Adam Warren’s season has seen him go from the starting rotation to the bullpen and back to the rotation, but he was back in the bullpen Thursday night in preparation for next week’s playoffs.

That turned out to be a huge boost for the Yankees, who watched Warren pitch three scoreless innings after taking over for CC Sabathia to start the sixth, getting the ball to Dellin Betances in the ninth.

“Every good club that I’ve been on has seemed to have a guy like Adam Warren that is able to do so many different things for you as a pitcher,” Joe Girardi said, comparing Warren to Ramiro Mendoza from Joe Torre’s late-1990s teams. “His value has been as big as any pitcher that we have in that room.

Look at what he did tonight; he was a big reason we won that game because he was able to give us three innings on a night that I didn’t want to use (Andrew) Miller and I wasn’t going to use (Justin) Wilson.”

WIN IS 10 GRAND
Lost in the euphoria of the playoff clincher was the fact that Thursday’s win was the 10,000th in franchise history, making the Yankees the first AL team to accomplish that feat.

“There are a lot of great things that happen in Yankees history,” Girardi said. “You think about 10,000 wins, the championships, the perfect game during the World Series, the perfect games during the season and what’s been accomplished here, but 10,000 wins is the mark of a consistent franchise. It’s meant a lot to the city of New York for a long time and I’m just proud to be a part of it.”

BE A HIRO
Masahiro Tanaka came through Wednesday’s start without any problems, reporting no issues with his bad right hamstring.

Tanaka allowed four runs on five hits and one walk over five innings Wednesday night, struggling with his splitter against the Red Sox. He’s still lined up to start the AL wild card game on Tuesday night.

“I saw him today and he said he felt good,” Girardi said. “He said his leg felt good. I felt he was a little bit rusty yesterday, but he’ll be able to throw a normal bullpen here in a few days.”

Alex Rodriguez, suspended all of 2014, reflects on Yankees' playoff return

NEW YORK — Dark days, he's called them throughout the year, and he did again Thursday night.

But first, Yankees' designated hitter Alex Rodriguez, the slugger who was suspended for all of the 2014 season for his link to performance-enhancing drugs, soaked in and drank up champagne Thursday night inside the Yankees clubhouse in celebration of his team's first playoff clinching since 2012.

A-Rod couldn't stop lauding his teammates after the 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox and expressing his gratitude for the crazy season—his 21st in baseball—he's had.

"You know, I always believed," he said of this team Thursday night. "It's something about wearing this uniform that gives me a certain amount of confidence. I know this year was different. This is probably the first year since I've been here in '04 that we were underdogs. The year we won 100 games, we were just playing to our expectations. But this year, the last month, the team has come together. We've played for each other and not for personal statistics and that's been part of our DNA all year."

Speaking of personal stats, Rodriguez has contributed his fair share. Rodriguez has 33 home runs this season, the most he's had in a year since 2008 when he clocked 35. His 86 RBI are second on the team.

"I think it benefits me to sit in the middle of many great left-handed hitters," Rodriguez said. "A lot of people asked me if we were going to celebrate today and my answer was: Darn right we're going to celebrate."

A-Rod continues to write an improbable script this season. He passed Willie Mays for fourth all-time in baseball history in home runs. He notched 3,000 hits (with a home run, of course). He passed 2,000 RBI. He turned 40 years old July 27 just days after hitting three home runs in a game. 

Has he appreciated it differently than other seasons?

"Oh, man, is that an understatement," Rodriguez said. "With all the stuff I went through in 2014. I talk about how dark those days were. To come back this year and be part of such a special team, such a special group of guys...we truly are a family and we've built a great brotherhood in here."

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PLUS: WATCH: John Ryan Murphy sums up playoff celebration perfectly

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The Yankees will play the one-game Wild Card next Tuesday, October 6. If they win just one game in Baltimore this weekend—they play three against the Orioles—they will have home-field advantage in the game. They can also do so if the Houston Astros, currently second in the Wild Card, lose one more game.

A-Rod might get a few at-bats this weekend but he will likely, along with the rest of the starters, be largely rested come Tuesday. He said he's confident his team has a chance to not just win that game but go far in the playoffs.

"You're in the dance, anything can happen," he said. "I think any team that gets in is capable of winning a championship."

Rodriguez spent several minutes complimenting his teammates, especially the younger players ("a lot of credit goes to our scouts and managers in the minor leagues; these kids are special"), but the questions inevitably came back to his perspective on the season that, only six months ago, seemed pretty not likely to end with a t-shirt soaked with celebratory alcohol.

"My whole thing this year has been team, team, team," he said. "I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity I've gotten. My number one goal was to make the team, and they gave me an opportunity and I'm thankful for it."

Thanks in large part to Rodriguez, the Yankees have an opportunity now too.  

Yankees honor Alex Rodriguez for reaching 3,000 career hits

For all the buildup, speculation and drama, A-Rod Day was rather subdued.

There were no white chairs, no plaques and no thunderous ovations. No retired legends graced the field, and only a small contingent of fans arrived early to show their support.

The Yankees nonetheless honored Alex Rodriguez and his 3,000-hit milestone Sunday with a 10-minute pregame ceremony before the series finale against the Blue Jays — one that lacked the typical excitement of a Stadium celebration.

The tribute started with a video documenting some of the most memorable hits of A-Rod’s career, including his 3,000th, which came on an opposite-field home run against the Tigers on June 19. Rodriguez is the 29th player in major league history to amass at least 3,000 hits in a career.

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After the video, A-Rod walked to home plate from the dugout with his daughters, Natasha and Ella. Rodriguez’s mother, Lourdes Navarro, brother Joe Dunand and sister Suzy Dunand also joined him on the field.

ANDREW SAVULICH/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner (r.) presents a gift of 3,000-hit diamond rings to Alex Rodriguez.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the Steinbrenners. First class all the way,” said Rodriguez, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored a run with a headfirst slide into home. “It’s rare for me that I get to celebrate a day with my mother and my two daughters, manager, teammates, and obviously the fans of New York.”

With the family on the field, the team played a message from former Yankees and Mariners manager Lou Piniella on the Jumbotron.

“Alex, congratulations on your 3,000th hit,” Piniella said. “It’s a great milestone and a tremendous accomplishment, and Anita and I are so proud. As you know, we consider you part of our family. Continue to do well and help the Yankees win a pennant.”

Later, Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost presented Rodriguez with a handcrafted vase commemorating the achievement. Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, meanwhile, gifted A-Rod with a 14-karat 3,000-hit diamond ring with similar ring-top pendants for Natasha and Ella.

Before the game, each player had a commemorative wine bottle waiting at his locker.

TIL TUESDAY

Right-hander Adam Warren is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday’s game in Tampa as long as he isn’t forced to pitch in relief Monday.

Warren’s last start came on June 25. He threw 47 pitches in 2.2 innings out of the bullpen in Wednesday’s loss to the Orioles.

“I feel like I’ll be able to adjust pretty easily,” Warren said. “Just looking forward to it and excited to get back out there as a starter.”

TULO COULD RETURN

ANDREW SAVULICH/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Alex Rodriguez takes the field with daughters Ella and Natasha.

There is a “chance” Troy Tulowitzki returns to the Blue Jays this season, Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos said Sunday.

The team is “cautiously optimistic” that Tulowitzki, who suffered a small crack in his shoulder blade colliding with center fielder Kevin Pillar in a win over the Yankees on Saturday, could be back in game action in two to three weeks.

However, Anthopoulos expects Tulowitzki to have some marginal discomfort in the shoulder if his shortstop does return in that near future.

“He could be back for October,” Anthopoulos said. “Hopefully we’re playing at that time.” 

A-Rod, Heathcott lead ninth-inning rally; Yankees beat Rays, 4-1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez had a tying, two-out RBI double in the ninth and Slade Heathcott followed with a three-run homer, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in American League Baseball play Monday night.

The victory moved the Yankees within three games of AL East-leading Toronto.

Erasmo Ramirez held the Yankees hitless until Carlos Beltran led off the eighth with a hotshot that took a short-hop off first baseman Richie Shaffer and went into right field.

In the bottom half Tampa Bay snapped a scoreless tie, ending its 21-inning run drought on Logan Forsythe's RBI double.

The Yankees, though, rallied in the ninth. Down to their last out, Brett Gardner was walked by Brad Boxberger (4-10) on four pitches and stole second. Then Rodriguez tied Craig Biggio for 21{+s}t place all-time with his 3,060th hit.

Heathcott homered after Brian McCann was intentionally walked, setting off a raucous celebration in the New York dugout.

Caleb Cotham (1-0) got the final out in the eighth for his first big league win before Andrew Miller pitched the ninth to pick up his 33rd save.

Ramirez allowed just the one hit, walked two and had six strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

CC Sabathia had a strong start for the Yankees, giving up three hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second.

The Yankees had two baserunners through the seventh. Rodriguez walked with two outs in the fourth and Brett Gardner drew another walk to start the seventh.

Gardner was doubled off second after Mikie Mahtook made a leaping catch into the right-field wall on Brian McCann's drive.

•TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: Manager Joe Girardi said CF Jacoby Ellsbury, in a 1 for 29 slide, is physically fine. "He feels pretty good," Girardi said.

Rays: Reliever Jake McGee (left knee) threw his third bullpen and will need at least one more before getting in a simulated game. "We'll see how the knee bounces back tomorrow," he said.

•UP NEXT

Yankees: Girardi said RHP Adam Warren (6-6, 3.29) will be able to throw around 65 pitches in a spot start Tuesday night.

Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (7-8, 3.21 ERA), Tuesday night's starter, has the second-lowest run support in the AL.

The Associated Press

Alex Rodriguez Fast Facts

Here is some background information on Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees infielder, who is in fourth place for the most career home runs in Major League Baseball history. He was suspended for the entire 2014 season after an investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Personal:
Birth date: July 27, 1975

Birth place: New York, New York

Birth name: Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez

Father: Victor Rodriguez, shoe salesman and baseball player

Mother: Lourdes (Navarro) Rodriguez, automotive plant worker

Marriage: Cynthia (Scurtis) Rodriguez (November 2, 2002 - 2008, divorced)

Children: Ella; Natasha

Other Facts:
His family moved from New York to the Dominican Republic when Rodriguez was four-years-old, then moved to Miami when he was in the fourth grade.

His father left when Rodriguez was nine, and his mother raised her three children as a single parent.

Co-wrote two children's books, "Hit a Grand Slam" and "Out of the Ballpark."

Has been romantically linked to celebrities such as Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz, and Madonna.

Baseball Records and Achievements:
Rodriguez ranks fourth all-time highest in home runs, and has hit the most of any active player.

He is the 29th member of the 3,000-hit-club.

Three-time American League MVP: 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Has been elected to the All Star Game 14 times.

All-time grand slam home run leader.

Ten-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Two-time Gold Glove Award winner.

Timeline:
Early 1990s - Attends Westminster Christian School in Miami.

June 1993 - MLB first overall draft pick, chosen by the Seattle Mariners to play shortstop.

July 8, 1994 - Major league debut at shortstop with the Seattle Mariners. At the time, he is the youngest player to be brought up to the majors since 1984.

1996 - Is invited to the All-Star Game for the first time.

August 12, 1998 - Makes his 100th major league home run.

September 19, 1998 - Becomes the third player ever to join the "40-40 Club," hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in one season. He ends the season that year with 42 home runs and 46 stolen bases.

1999 - Has surgery on his left knee.

December 2000 - Signs the largest contract ever in professional sports at that time, a ten-year, $252 million dollar contract with the Texas Rangers.

August 4, 2007 - Becomes the youngest player to hit 500 home runs.

November 2007 - Signs the largest contract ever in American sports at $275 million over 10 years with the New York Yankees to play third base.

December 2007 - During an interview with Katie Couric on "60 Minutes," Rodriguez denies taking performance-enhancing drugs and says he is not tempted to use them.

February 9, 2009 - Rodriguez admits to using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers.

March 9, 2009 - Has surgery on his right hip. He rejoins the New York Yankees about a month into the season, on May 8th.

November 4, 2009 - The New York Yankees defeat the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series, four games to two.

August 4, 2010 - Becomes the youngest player to hit 600 home runs. Only eight players have ever reached this milestone.

July 2011 - Undergoes surgery on his right knee.

January 16, 2013 - Has arthroscopic surgery on his left hip.

January 31, 2013 - The Miami New Times publishes a story alleging more than a dozen professional baseball players, including Rodriguez, and other athletes were named in records kept over several years by the now-closed Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in Miami.

August 5, 2013 - Major League Baseball announces that it is suspending Rodriguez for 211 regular season games through the 2014 season amid allegations involving the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Twelve other players are also suspended for 50 games each.

August 7, 2013 - The MLB Players Association files a grievance on his behalf, appealing the suspension. Rodriguez is allowed to play while the suspension is appealed. He has been in the Yankees' lineup since returning from injury on August 5.

September 30, 2013 - Rodriguez's arbitration hearing to appeal his suspension begins.

October 3, 2013 - Files a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court against MLB and Commissioner Bud Selig, alleging they "engaged in tortious and egregious conduct with one and only one goal ... to destroy the reputation and career of Alex Rodriguez."

October 4, 2013 - Files a medical malpractice lawsuit against Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

October 7, 2013 - MLB files a motion to move Rodriguez's lawsuit from state court to federal court, in hopes of dismissing the suit.

November 20, 2013 - Walks out of an arbitration hearing into his record-setting 211-game suspension after learning MLB Commissioner Bud Selig will not testify, saying later that he's done with what he calls a "farce" and an "abusive process."

January 11, 2014 - Rodriguez officially loses his appeal and his 211-game suspension is reduced to 162 games, arbitrator Fredric Horowitz rules. He will miss the 2014 MLB season.

February 7, 2014 - Drops his lawsuit against Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The lawsuit had been seeking a dismissal of a 162-game suspension.

November 5, 2014 - The Miami Herald reports Rodriguez privately admitted in late January 2014 to using steroids, during a meeting with prosecutors and federal agents who gave him immunity.

February 17, 2015 - Releases a hand-written apology, taking "full responsibility for the mistakes that led to [his] suspension for the 2014 season."

May 7, 2015 - Hits his 661st home run, passing Willie Mays to take fourth place on baseball's all-time home run list.

June 19, 2015 - Earns hit 3,000 at Yankee Stadium in a seven to two game against the Detroit Tigers.

August 26, 2015 - Rodriguez faces a $100 million dollar lawsuit filed by his former brother-in-law, Constantine Scurtis. Scurtis files a 12-count complaint against Rodriguez claiming he used their company to commit fraud.

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