Mike Mussina has a small greaseboard hanging on his locker. After last night’s game, it read: “Balls that hit the yellow steps are usually homers. Not tonight.”
The line was referring to Alex Rodriguez, who was robbed of a second homer in last night’s 8-0 rout over the Orioles. For the second time in the last three games, there was a blown home run call at the Stadium.
Carlos Delgado wasn’t given a homer on Sunday. Last night, Rodriguez missed out, too.
Rodriguez, who already hit a solo home run in the fourth to give the Yanks a 4-0 lead, drilled a shot to right-center in the sixth inning. Replays show the ball caroming off the yellow staircase beyond the wall. But crew chief Tim Welke said Rodriguez’s shot bounced off the wall, and the Yankees slugger had to settle for a double.
Welke said he made a bad call after watching the replay after the game.
“We made a mistake,” he said.
Though the call was insignificant because the Yanks were in the midst of a blowout, Rodriguez should have had his seventh homer of the season and 525th of his career.
“I don’t know,” Rodriguez said of the explanation he was offered. “It wasn’t good enough. But I’m glad we won the game.”
He also can be happy about his triumphant return from his strained right quadriceps. After belting a two-run homer in his first game back Tuesday, Rodriguez went 3-for-4 last night, ripping two doubles and a solo homer.
As for hoping for instant replay, it apparently depends whether it benefits the Yanks.
“I did tonight. I didn’t want it the other night against the Mets,” Rodriguez said. “So I’m torn.”
