Alex Rodriguez turns 40 years old on Monday, but Saturday night he celebrated with three home runs as the Yankees came back to beat the Twins 8-5. Down 5-0 after three innings, Rodriguez put the Yankees on the board with a solo shot in the fourth, a two run shot in the three-run seventh, then tied the game with another solo home run leading off the ninth. John Ryan Murphy then hit a three-run homer to put the Yankees ahead for good.
That was the fifth time Alex blasted three homers in a game. Since they lowered the mound in 1969, only six players have matched that number of three home run games. Sammy Sosa had six, so Alex can still shoot for that. Dave Kingman, Carlos Delgado, Mark McGwire, and Joe Carter were the others.
Some Yankees players predicted the final home run:
In the bullpen, the reliever Justin Wilson told the rookie Nick Goody, who had just been called up, that Rodriguez would hit one out. In the clubhouse, as Sabathia watched Rodriguez study video of Perkins the previous inning, he had a premonition, too.
Sabathia — 6-foot-7, 290 pounds and coming off knee surgery — said that when he saw Rodriguez jump on a first-pitch fastball from Perkins, he jumped so high, “I probably hit the ceiling.”
He now has 23 home runs on the season, and needs another 23 to reach 700.
23 + 14 = 37 to reach Aaron, and the next milestone controversy. Let’s say another 10 this year. Two years to hit 27? Even with a normal drop off it sounds doable.
TJ surgery pitchers tend to bounce back, Alex with a year off is exceeding expectations. Maybe older players should take a year off to really heal up.
rbj » I think you mean Ruth, not Aaron, but your point is valid.
Ah, yes. In my defense I am on vacation. Aaron most likely out of reach.
I do wonder if Arod got his TUE for testosterone reinstated. Bosch said in testimony he had below average testosterone levels of a man his age, and he did get a TUE in 2007