New York's Alex Rodriguez is hit by a pitch in the second inning of the Yankees' 9-6 win over the Red Sox in Boston on Sunday. Dominick Reuter / Reuters

Yankees' slugger keys 4-run rally in comeback win over Red Sox

Alex Rodriguez was hit by a fastball his first time up and then homered to start a four-run sixth inning that rallied the New York Yankees to a 9-6 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected after storming out of the dugout to holler at plate umpire Brian O'Nora, who warned both benches immediately after Rodriguez was plunked by Ryan Dempster's 3-0 pitch leading off the second inning.

The pitch struck A-Rod's left elbow pad and ricocheted off his back.

"Dempster should have been thrown out of the game," Girardi said. "Everyone knows it was intentional."

Players streamed from the dugouts and benches, but no skirmishes developed in the latest testy game between the longtime rivals.

"It's obviously an odd situation there," Rodriguez said. "The game has a way of policing itself."

The beaning seemed to spark the Yankees, who were trailing 2-0 at the time. Mariano Rivera earned his first save since blowing three in a row for the first time in his career.

Rodriguez, who went 3-for -4 with two runs and two RBIs, was recently suspended for 211 games by Major League Baseball in the Biogenesis drug case. He appealed the penalty and can play until there is a final decision.

With the loss Boston's lead in the AL East was cut to one game over Tampa Bay.

One Yankee drew loud cheers from the Fenway Park crowd. Rivera received a standing ovation as he ran in from the bullpen for the ninth. In his first appearance since last Sunday, he got his 36th save in 41 opportunities.

With two runners on, Rivera retired Jarrod Saltalamacchia on a fly ball for the final out.

CC Sabathia (11-10) got the win as the Yankees took two of three from the first-place Red Sox.

Booed every time he came to bat - and even when he was on deck in the first - Rodriguez drew more jeers after he led off the sixth with a homer off Dempster (6-9) to cut the lead to 6-4. Brett Gardner soon followed with a three-run triple off Drake Britton.

As Rodriguez's second homer of the year landed in the center-field bleachers, he clapped his hands and let out a shout at first base. Then he clapped again and pointed both hands skyward as he crossed home plate.

He continued to the dugout where he was congratulated by teammates. The homer was the 649th of Rodriguez's career, 11 behind Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time list.

The rally continued when the Yankees loaded the bases with one out on singles by Eduardo Nunez and Lyle Overbay and a walk to Chris Stewart before Gardner tripled.

Rodriguez was one of four Yankees hit by pitches, but his was the only one that appeared to be intentional.

Boston manager John Farrell said in an interview with ESPN during the game that he didn't feel Dempster hit Rodriguez intentionally.

"He was trying to establish his fastball," Farrell said. "Obviously, the pitch got away from him."

Dempster's first pitch went behind Rodriguez's knees as fans chanted "You're a cheater!" The next two pitches were inside before the fourth pitch struck Rodriguez. He walked slowly to first base, accompanied by a trainer and staring at Dempster but not making a move toward the mound.

In 12 games since his season debut after recovering from hip and quadriceps problems, Rodriguez is batting .319 with two homers and six RBIs.

(China Daily 08/20/2013 page23)