Alex Rodriguez slammed his bat, looked away, and shook his head in disbelief. He knew he was just several feet away from producing the most dramatic moment of the MLB season.
Called upon to pinch hit with two runners on during the seventh inning of Wednesday's game against the Red Sox - the penultimate meeting between A-Rod and his longtime rivals - the soon-to-be released slugger was showered with boos before flying out to right field in what could be one of the final plate appearances of his 22-year career.
Rodriguez, who started the game on the bench for the second straight game, looked relatively sharp for a 41-year-old making his first plate appearance in eight days. With his club trailing the Red Sox 4-2, and facing hard-throwing right-hander Matt Barnes, A-Rod worked the count in his favor, 2-1, before lifting the 98-mph fastball to the opposite part of the field.
The highly anticipated at-bat - his first of the series - came moments after Red Sox fans serenaded Fenway Park with more "We want A-Rod!" chants, which were followed by a chorus of boos.
Earlier Wednesday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi defended his benching of A-Rod, saying his job description "doesn't entail farewell tours."
A-Rod is scheduled to start Thursday's series finale before suiting up for what's expected to be his final game Friday against the Rays in New York.
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)
