"A-Rod" silences critics with key homer

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2006

NEW YORK (AFP) — Alex Rodriguez answered critics - incuding Yankees boss George Steinbrenner - with a fifth inning home run that helped New York to a 7-3 victory over Boston here.

"A-Rod" homered with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to snap a tie and convert jeers to cheers at Yankee Stadium.

Entering in a 7-for-38 slump and coming off a two-error game in Tuesday's 14-3 loss that drew the ire of Yankee fans and Steinbrenner, Rodriguez's struggles continued in his first two at-bats.

With the Yankees trailing 2-0 and Jason Giambi on first, Rodriguez struck out on three pitches. The boos increased in the third when he followed Giambi's two-run home run with a weak foul out to first base.

"It's more of a frustration (from the fans)," Rodriguez said....