A-Rod inches closer to 700 HRs with mammoth shot

Alex Rodriguez is back in the home run column in a big way.

In the bottom of the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees' designated hitter belted a no-doubt, solo homer into the left field bleachers off right-hander Kevin Gausman.

Over the last few weeks, Yankees manager Joe Girardi has benched Rodriguez whenever a right-hander is on the mound.

Though he proved his skipper wrong on Monday, Girardi has a reason why he doesn't play A-Rod as much anymore. His numbers against right-handers coming into the game were downright awful.

It was Rodriguez's first home run since June 18, and it gives him 696 for his career.