Rodriguez Carries Yankees With Three Homer Game

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Fans can utter what they want about Alex Rodriguez’s past, however there is no denying that his 2015 campaign has been superlative, as the slugger went yard three times in the Yankees’ 8-5 win on Saturday. With a historic mark in the win, Rodriguez has moved up to sixth All-Time in multi home run games, tying hall of famer Hank Aaron with 62.

The 21-year veteran accounted for four of the Yankees’ eight runs in yesterday’s win against the Twins including a ninth inning homer that tied the game.

Hitting .277 with 23 home runs and 58 RBI this season, Rodriguez may not be finished adding to the record books in other areas. Of past and present players at the age of 40, Rodriguez is on-pace to hit the most home runs and to accumulate the highest slugging percentage in a single season. His current pace is to hit 39 home runs with 98 RBI in 152 games. All three numbers exceed any mark since his last All-Star season in 2011.

Photo taken by Ann Heisenfelt of the Associated Press

Many doubted a season even remotely like this would occur for a player – at the age 40 – who previously was on the descending side of his career and had just returned from an entire season suspension. However, Rodriguez has revitalized his career and has established himself as arguably the most valuable Yankee this season.

In just the past 17 games, Rodriguez has belted eight home runs and has knocked in 13 runs, helping the Yankees win 12 games in that span.

Many believed that, despite his controversies, he was snubbed in the All-Star voting results, as the 14-time All-Star missed the vote for his third consecutive active season. With the stacked cast of American League designated hitters that were statistically better this year including Seattle’s Nelson Cruz and Texas’ Prince Fielder, there simply was not enough room to have Rodriguez on the team.

Nonetheless, the game is predicated on playing to win as a team and not as an individual player, which is exactly what Rodriguez is doing, as the Yankees are in first place in the AL East.

Rodriguez is tied for second in most career three home run games with five, behind Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa who have six. Following his ninth inning shot, Yankee catcher John Ryan Murphy would seal the deal with a curtain call three run shot a few at-bats later.