Coming back from surgery and a 211-game suspension that is being appealed, third baseman Alex Rodriguez returned to the New York Yankee faithful Friday to a chorus of boos and cheers defeating the Central Division-leading Detroit Tigers 4-3 in a 10-inning extra game.
After missing the entire season with both a hip surgery and a quad strain, Rodriguez returned to the Yankees lineup on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, after appealing his 211-game for his involvement with the Biogenesis case. Throughout the series against the White Sox, while on the road, Rodriguez was lustily booed.
Rodriguez would hear a mixture of both cheers and boos throughout the night, playing in front of his home crowd. With one-out and a man on third, Rodriguez entered the batter's box in the third inning with a mixture of cheers and boos, as would occur throughout the night.
"It's something we're used to," said Yankee manager Joe Girardi prior to the game. "Are there more people in the clubhouse? Yes. But our players are used to that, because we do have a lot of coverage on a daily basis"
Miguel Cabrera smacked a 2-run homer off closer Mariano Rivera to send the game into extra innings, forcing the Yankees to rally in the bottom of the 10th for the victory.
Yankee outfielder Brett Gardner grounded an RBI single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning. The win breaks the Yankees four-game losing streak.
Rodriguez refused to talk to the media after the game but Girardi felt that the fan fallout was something his three-time Most Valuable Player award-winner that would have to deal as he appeals his 211-game ban from the game.
"It's something he has to be able to put out of his mind and just be a player for us," said Girardi said after addressing the media.
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