Return to 3B conjures emotions for A-Rod, Girardi

NEW YORK — For a man who has played more than 10,000 innings at third base in his career, Alex Rodriguez was still enthusiastic to man the hot corner one more time.

In Friday night’s 6-3 Yankees win over the Rays, a game that was billed as Rodriguez’s last with the Yankees and potentially as a Major Leaguer, Rodriguez started and played the first eight innings as a designated hitter, the only role he had served all season. But with the Yankees holding a three-run lead and closer Dellin Betances in to finish the game, manager Joe Girardi trotted out to talk to home-plate umpire D.J. Reyburn with his lineup card in hand.

Girardi was making a switch. Starting third baseman Chase Headley was coming out. Rodriguez would get one last chance to play the position the Yankees brought him to New York to play.

• A-Rod looks up to you, New York, New York!

“I’m very grateful that Joe gave me the opportunity to play third for one out,” Rodriguez said. “I was actually excited. I haven’t touched my third base glove in a long time. It was great. It was fun to throw across the diamond to [first baseman Mark Teixeira]. We have some great memories. I’ll cherish that forever.”

Rodriguez’s time at third base was short-lived. After Betances struck out leadoff hitter Mikie Mahtook looking, out of the Yankees’ dugout emerged Ronald Torreyes. Rodriguez trotted back toward the dugout for the last time, surveying the field and taking in the crowd’s raucous ovation for him. Before he …

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