Home run upheld in Yankees victory
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez’s ninth-inning homer was upheld in baseball’s first use of instant replay, and the New York Yankees beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 8-4 on Wednesday night.
Rodriguez, who went three for four and drove in four runs, hit a towering two-run shot off Troy Percival that third base umpire Brian Runge immediately ruled a homer when it bounced off the catwalk behind the foul pole in left field.
Rays catcher Dioner Navarro protested, bringing Manager Joe Maddon out of the dugout.
After convening, the umpires left the field to review the tape, a process that took 2 minutes 15 seconds to back the on-field call.
Edwar Ramirez (5-1) worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam after Carl Pavano ran into trouble in the fifth. He was the winner despite facing only three batters as the Yankees extended their road winning streak to a season-high six straight.
Rodriguez’s home run was his 31st of the season and 549th of his career, breaking a tie for 12th place with Mike Schmidt on the all-time list.
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