Alex Rodriguez silenced the more than 31,000 boos when he launched a pinch-hit home run into the Monster seats at Fenway Park for career home run #660 Friday night. The historic blow tied Rodriguez (AKA "A-Rod") with Willie Mays for fourth-place on Major League Baseball's all-time home run list. The home run (6) was the game-winning hit as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2.  

With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the eighth, Rodriguez pinch hit for designated hitter Garrett Jones. He took three Junichi Tazawa pitches outside the strike zone. Yankees manager Joe Girardi gave A-Rod the green light, and the historic blow came on the 3-0 pitch.

In addition, this milestone home run was the first for A-Rod as a pinch hitter in his now 21-year career. With the home run, he is now also only 10 RBI (1,983) behind the legendary Lou Gehrig for fourth place all-time on the RBI list.

Many fans, analysts, critics, and even players will discount the feat because of the slugger's past PED use and the season-long suspension that Rodriguez endured in 2014. Still, Major League Baseball recognizes all of his home runs, so the milestone stands. 

Rodriguez did not start the game because Girardi wanted nine left-handed hitters (three of them switch hitters) batting against Red Sox starter Justin Masterson, who has struggled against left-handers this season. Masterson came into Friday night's game with a .279 BAA versus lefties. Jones, though, did not repsond, going 0 for 3 off Masterson. Girardi, seeing a chance to win the game in the eighth, sent A-Rod to the plate to face the right-handed Tazawa, and A-Rod came through.

The Yankees took an early 1-0 lead when Carlos Beltran doubled home former Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury in the top of the first. Boston tied the score in the third via Mookie Betts' sacrifice fly. 

One inning later, Boston took the lead when Allen Craig reached the monster seats with a solo home run (1) off CC Sabathia. Boston held that lead until the top of the seventh. Brian McCann's RBI single brought home Didi Gregorius with the tying run to set the stage for A-Rod's blast.

Just before McCann's hit, Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira took a fastball from Tommy Lane of the right wrist. Teixeira was okay and stayed in the game. However, the ball ricocheted off him and plunked catcher Ryan Hanigan on his right wrist, forcing him to leave the game. 

Esmil Rogers (W: 101, 2.20 ERA) benfited from the blg blow to earn the win in relief by pitching a scoreless bottom of the seventh. Dellin Betances worked the eighth, and former Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller (S: 9) pitched a perfect ninth for the save. Sabathia lasted six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He also walked two and fanned three.

Tazawa (L: 0-1, 2.31) served up Rodriguez's home run to take the loss. He pitched one inning and gave up two hits. Masterson did a fine job against the lefties in his six innings. He allowed two runs on six hits while walking three and striking out two. 

On Saturday, New York's Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 4.15) will face Boston's Wade Miley (1-2, 8.62). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. EDT.