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A-Rod's 16th inning HR lifts Yanks
March 31, 2004
A-Rod’s first hit in pinstripes ended a marathon season opener last night in Japan.
Rodriguez, traded from Texas to New York in February, hit a two-run homer in the top of the 16th inning to lift the Yankees to a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
A-Rod didn’t start the game, complaining of stomach flu after “eating too much sushi” the night before. But he surely finished it strong, hitting a bomb 410 feet that had the 42,715 fans in Tokyo on their feet for more than a minute in applause.
“Boy that felt good,” Rodriguez said afterward. “I’m just glad to help the team get a win. And glad that sushi didn't keep me out the entire night."
Tampa scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on a sac fly by former Yankee Tino Martinez to tie it 2-2. The Yanks scored one run in the top of the 11th but the Rays answered in the bottom half. The two teams failed to muster anything in the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th frames. A-Rod finally blew the game open with his two-run blast in the 16th.
Derek Jeter finished with three hits, including a solo home run to lead off the game. Gary Sheffield also had three hits. Paul Quantrill got the win in the game that featured 13 different pitchers...
"If this game is a precursor to the 2004 season, I can't wait to see how things are going to turn out," commissioner Bud Selig said afterward, bowing awkwardly to the Japanese press.
(photo courtesy of MLB.com)
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