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 The Yankees and Rodriguez, seen as over-the-hill heading into the
2015 campaign, returned to the post-season for the first time since
2012 with a 4-1 victory over their arch-rival Boston Red Sox on a
rainy Thursday.
"This year was different," said Rodriguez, champagne pouring down
his face. "This was probably the first year since I've been here in
'04 that we were underdogs.
"With all the stuff that I went through in '14, I talked about how
dark those days were, to come back this year and be part of such a
special team, such special guys. We truly are a family and we've
built a great brotherhood in here."
A crowd much smaller than the announced 40,000 braved a wet, chilly
evening to see the Yankees post the win that clinched a wild card
berth.
Rodriguez did not supply a home run, leaving that to Carlos Beltran
and late-season rookie call-ups Greg Bird and Rob Refsnyder, while
Rodriguez had a walk and single.
But it was A-Rod's hitting this season that helped drive the team to
the playoffs.
Returning after a one-season ban for violating MLB's drug program,
Rodriguez belted 33 home runs and drove in 86 runs in New York's
drive back to the playoffs.
"For Alex to come in and have the year that he had this year was
outstanding and it was a big lift for us," said manager Joe Girardi.
"I think it's extremely gratifying with what we've went through this
year, where people figured we would be at the end of the year.
"We had a lot of injuries, we had age on this team. But they always
kept fighting."
Along the way, Rodriguez achieved a clutch of milestones.
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He became the 29th player to amass 3,000 hits and rose to fourth on
the all-time home run list behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe
Ruth.
In 2013, Rodriguez hit just seven home runs and drove in 19 in 44
games after a late start following hip surgery.
Rodriguez, who had admitted before the 2009 season that he used
steroids while with the Texas Rangers after receiving a record
10-year, $250 million deal, was called A-Roid and A-Fraud in the
tabloids and from the stands.
Now he has been embraced as a model of redemption by Yankees fans
and on Thursday was announced as a finalist for the Comeback Player
of the Year award given by the Players Association.
"I do take a minute to feel extremely grateful for the opportunity
that I've gotten," Rodriguez said.
"In January, honestly, my number one goal was to make the team and
they gave me an opportunity and I'm thankful for it."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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