NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez has not started three games in a row for the Yankees since June 28, 29 and 30, when he went two-for-12 in a series against the Texas Rangers.
That began the latest phase of his career, that of $21 million platoon player with Carlos Beltran, who has been getting the bulk of the DH at-bats against right-handed starters.
But Joe Girardi broke the pattern Friday night, starting A-Rod at DH against Boston righty Steven Wright, a knuckleballer, and Rodriguez responded, sort of, with the Yankees first hit of the game, a 40-foot dribbler that became an infield hit with two out in the fifth inning.