Alex Rodriguez has been many things in his career: A world-class player, adored teammate, liar and cheat.
One thing he never has been is boring, and his final night as a Yankee — and perhaps as a player — was no different.
From the apocalyptic storm that seemed timed just to make a mockery of the Yankees’ pregame celebration of the controversial slugger, to the RBI double Rodriguez hit in the first inning, to his brief cameo at third in the top of the ninth, Friday’s 6-3 Yankees victory over the Rays was all about A-Rod — who was forced out of The Bronx after an uncomfortable, prolonged sendoff.
Afterward, he spoke with a finality he hadn’t through much of the previous week.
“I’ve got to tell you, it’s gonna be tough to top that,” Rodriguez said of the spectacle. “That’s a memory that I will own forever.”
He was most moved by manager Joe Girardi allowing him to play one batter at third base in the ninth.
Really, though, the pregame drama topped it all.
Fierce-looking clouds rolled over Yankee Stadium just as the planned ceremony to honor the tainted slugger was set to begin.
Then the thunder started just after Rodriguez trotted onto the field, and as public address announcer Paul Olden rattled off some numbers about Rodriguez’s time in The Bronx, an even louder thunder clap sounded.
And while Lou Piniella’s taped tribute to his former player showed on the scoreboard, the sky opened.
Rodriguez called it “biblical.”
So as the Yankees and team owners Jennifer and Hal Steinbrenner hurriedly gave Rodriguez gifts that included a signed base and a framed jersey, a downpour began that sent fans running for cover.
To top it off, Mariano Rivera’s appearance on the field created a much bigger stir among the crowd than Rodriguez’s ovation while the conditions worsened.
When it became clear the weather wasn’t going to lighten up, Rodriguez and the rest of his crew headed for the dugout. Olden asked the crowd for another ovation for A-Rod, another round of booming thunder erupted — to the point at which you hoped the ceremony would end so Rodriguez would be able to survive his own celebration.
His night began to turn around in the first inning, when he drilled a 2-2 four-seamer from Chris Archer to the gap in right-center, scoring Brett Gardner from first.
It proved to be his last hit as a Yankee.
Chants of “We want A-Rod” erupted from the full crowd at the Stadium.
In the seventh, he swung at the first pitch from Ryan Garton and grounded to short. And then he charged onto the field to start the top of the ninth.
He was removed for Ronald Torreyes, before the tying run could get to the plate.
“The fact that I don’t have to face Chris Archer and [Dellin] Betances, that’s definitely a stress reliever,’’ Rodriguez said. “This game is tough. I saw Gary Sanchez have a series in Boston and I looked at him and said, ‘I can’t do that anymore,’ and I was happy about it. I’m at peace.”
Now, it’s on to the next chapter.
“It wasn’t till Hal and I sat down last Wednesday that I thought it could be a reality,’’ Rodriguez said. “I’ve often said it: Baseball has a funny way to tap you on the shoulder when you least expect it and tells you it’s the end.”
On Friday, it wasn’t just baseball tapping him on the shoulder. It seemed to be the gods threatening the end of the world.
Nothing has gone according to plan since the middle of last season, which ended poorly and has been followed by an even more miserable 2016 that led the Yankees to come to the decision to release Rodriguez after Friday’s game — even though he is owed roughly $27 million between now and next year.
Rodriguez is set to become a special adviser to Hal Steinbrenner, but speculation has continued that A-Rod will try to play elsewhere, either to finish this season or next.
“You look at 22 years, to have this type of ending the last two years are what I’m most proud of,” Rodriguez said.