Alex Rodriguez strikes out in key spot, is pinch-hit for again
The spotlight must be blinding for Alex Rodriguez.
The score was 1-1 in the eighth inning of Thursday's American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles. Runners were on second and third. There was one out. And the New York Yankees' $30 million third baseman was at the plate.
The result: strikeout. No surprise. Nothing to see here.
"It's frustrating," Rodriguez said. "I had a chance to do some damage there and I didn't come through. I've seen O'Day a lot this season but I still seem to be able to figure out. Of course, he had a lot of guys' numbers tonight."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi again pinch-hit for Rodriguez in the bottom of the 13th inning with two outs, none on and the Orioles up one. Eric Chavez lined out to third base to end the game, a 2-1 Orioles win that forced Game 5 Friday.
Rodriguez is now 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the series. One of those hits came in his second plate appearance of Game 4, but he was doubled up on a Nick Swisher ground ball and struck out in his following two tries.
"That's 5 straight multi-strikeout games for A-Rod in postseason. Only Darryl Strawberry (8) has a longer postseason streak," ESPN Stats & Info tweeted.
Swisher popped out for the final out in the eighth after Rodriguez's strikeout. Darren O'Day, brought in to replace left-hander Brian Matusz, was responsible for both outs.
Rodriguez was moved from third to fifth in the Yankees order Thursday after he was pinch-hit for in Game 3. Raul Ibanez homered twice in Rodriguez's stead.
Some reaction on Twitter to Rodriguez's strikeout:
"Martha should ask these guys what the hell to do with A-Rod... #VPDebate #Yankees" — Eric Stangel, executive producer of The Late Show with David Letterman
"A Rod having a worse night than ... nevermind" — Michael Smith of ESPN
"A-Rod is bad at baseball, which is unfortunate because he is a baseball player." — Sports Pickle, satire website
"If you flip channels fast enough, you can get Joe Biden to laugh at A-Rod." — Michael Rosenberg, Sports Illustrated writer
"#TNF #MLB Chris Johnson and A-Rod. Neither one can run for 30 yards. (90 feet)" — Peyton's Head, parody account