A-Rod Walks Off the Hero

12th Inning Home Run Tops Braves 4-3

Alex Rodriguez has been hearing boos for weeks, so when it came time to hear some cheers, Rodriguez didn't acknowledge them. And who could blame them. The Yankees trailed the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in the 12th inning yesterday afternoon when Jason Giambi drew a one-out walk from reliever Jorge Sosa (2-10). That brought the much maligned A-Rod to the plate. Moments later the remainder of the crowd of 54,186 were on their feet cheering wildly as A-Rod crushed a Sosa fastball. The ball cleared the Yankees bullpen in left-center to give the Yankees a come from behind 4-3 victory.

The same fans who had been booing earlier in the game were now on their feet chanting for a curtain call. A-Rod ignored it, bolting for the clubhouse as soon as he was done being mobbed by his teammates. How it affects his relationship with the fans remains to be seen, but no one could blame Rodriguez for not placating the fans. He also realizes it was just one game, just one at-bat. It was his 16th home run of the season and the 445th of his career.

The win made sure that starter Chien-Ming Wang's efforts were not in vein. Wang gave the bullpen much needed rest as he went 8 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits, walked 1 and struck out 2. 19 of the 24 outs he recorded were on the grounder, a stat that leads in the AL. He needed just 91 pitches to complete his day.

The Yankee hitters couldn't muster anything against Braves start John Smoltz who left with a lead for the 6th time this season, only to end up with a no-decision. The Yankees put two on with two out in the 2nd, on a Derek Jeter double and a Giambi walk, but Rodriguez lined hard to center. It was the only real trouble Smoltz got into other than the 6th when he gave up a lead off single to Melky Cabrera, who advanced to third on Giambi's one-out single. A-Rod hit a comebacker off of Smoltz that resulted in an RBI ground out that cut the Braves lead in half at 2-1.

Kenny Ray relieved Smoltz to start the 8th and one batter later allowed Giambi's 23rd home run of the season. The high shot hit the foul pole in right to tie the game at 2-2. Mariano Rivera pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Wang before Kyle Farnsworth, Mike Myers, and Scott Proctor walked the tight rope into the 12th. That's when Marcus Giles took advantage of a 95-mph fastball that Proctor left up in the zone and smacked it out for his 5th home run of the season. Ron Villone (1-1) picked up the final out in the 12th and ended up earning his first win as a Yankee.

The Braves had scored single runs in the 4th (doubles by Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones) and the 6th (Brian McCann RBI single). Smoltz made the lead hold up, but nothing could hold A-Rod's hit in the ball park.

Notes

Derek Jeter doubled in the 2nd inning to give 220 career interleague hits, tops among all players.

Chien-Ming Wang has become the Yankees #2 man behind Mike Mussina. Wang has gone 7 or more innings in 5 straight starts.

Melky Cabrera has a modest 5 game hitting streak that has seen his average rise from .248 to .261.

Yankees top prospect Phillip Hughes tossed 5 innings of 1-hit, shutout ball against New Hampshire yesterday as the Trenton Thunder picked up the win. It marked the 3rd time in June that Hughes had a no-hitter going into the 5th.