A-Rod homers after being hit by pitch
Alex Rodriguez had a dramatic response to being hit by a pitch Sunday night -- he homered later in the New York Yankees' game against the Boston Red Sox.
With a 3-and-0 count to his first batter of the second inning, Boston right-hander Ryan Dempster threw a fastball that either got away from him or was intended to deliver a message. The pitch hit Rodriguez, prompting the benches and bullpens to empty and plate umpire Brian O'Nora to issue warnings to both teams.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected by O'Nora for arguing the warning.
In the sixth inning, Rodriguez led off against Dempster again, but this time the Yankees third baseman homered to center field on a 1-and-0 pitch. It was Rodriguez's second homer in 12 games this season since returning from offseason hip surgery and a quadriceps injury.
Rodriguez is playing for the Yankees while appealing a 211-game suspension issued by Major League Baseball for his reported involvement with Biogenesis of America and his alleged attempts to thwart the league's investigation. The former South Florida clinic reportedly supplied athletes with banned performance-enhancing drugs.
Earlier Sunday, Rodriguez's lawyers contacted the Major League Baseball Players Association to begin a grievance regarding their claims that the New York Yankees mishandled Rodriguez's medical treatment this season and last season, multiple media outlets reported.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Rodriguez lied to him by saying he wouldn't seek a second medical opinion, adding that the only times he speaks to Rodriguez now are to say hello and goodbye.
