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NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguezs Yankees career ended the way it began a dozen years ago, with a game against the Tampa Bay Rays in which he went 1-for-4 with a double.The evening began with a violent thunderstorm that descended on the Bronx just as a ceremony commemorating A-Rods years in pinstripes was about to begin. The storm forced the participants, who included Reggie Jackson, Mariano Rivera and Hal Steinbrenner, to scramble for cover from the lightning and torrential rains barely five minutes after the festivities had begun.Friday nights 6-3 Yankees victory ended with the most unlikely sight: Rodriguez heading out for the ninth inning with a fielders glove on his left hand, sent out to play one final inning at third base, a position he had not started at in a game since April 27, 2015.Ive given these fans a lot of headaches over the years and Ive disappointed a lot of people, Rodriguez said, his voice sounding hoarse over the public-address system in one of baseballs most unusual farewells. But like Ive always said, you dont have to be defined by your mistakes. How you come back matters, too, and thats what New Yorks all about.The sellout crowd of 46,459 was predictably wild for A-Rod all night, and they were never louder than when chanting his name for its traditional roll call in the first inning, an honor usually reserved for position players, not designated hitters.But the crowd also rose to its feet for all four of his at-bats, erupting wildly when he stroked a 2-2 fastball from Rays starter Chris Archer into the right-center gap in his first at-bat for an RBI double that tied the game at 1. He clapped his hands and shouted into the muggy Bronx air in celebration as he reached second base. It was Rodriguezs first extra-base hit since a home run against the Baltimore Orioles on July 18 at Yankee Stadium.Rodriguezs ensuing at-bats were increasingly anticlimactic -- a groundout in the fourth, a swinging strikeout in the fifth and a final groundout to shortstop on the first pitch he saw from reliever Ryan Garton in the eighth.As A-Rod headed back to the dugout, the crowd began a chant of We want A-Rod! The chant grew in intensity as the Yankees batted in the bottom of the eighth. YES Network television cameras caught Rodriguez having a dugout conversation with manager Joe Girardi before dashing into the clubhouse, presumably to grab a glove.Rodriguez had criticized Girardi for benching him for most of the past month.If this is the last time he plays, Girardi said softly, pausing for 10 seconds and sniffling as his voice cracked and his eyes teared, I wanted it to be something he never forgot.When Rodriguez sprinted out to third base at the start of the ninth inning, the crowd erupted once again. On a night of drama, this might have been the most dramatic moment of all. On the big video screen in center field, Rodriguez could be seen breathing heavily as if even he were exhilarated, and perhaps unnerved, by the moment.The moment, however, lasted just one batter. After?Dellin Betances?struck out Mikie Mahtook, Girardi sent Ronald Torreyes out to replace Rodriguez, allowing the 41-year-old superstar to bask in one more ovation as the crowd chanted Thank you, A-Rod!Rodriguez accepted hugs from all his teammates, waved his cap to the crowd and entered the dugout, where Girardi was waiting for him on the top step. And then he was gone -- 12 seasons, 351 home runs and 1,096 RBIs after it all began -- as the crowd chanted his name. Many of them then headed for the exits before Betances could nail down the final out of the game. They had seen what they came to see. The rest was just bookkeeping.With all that Ive been through, and for them to show up on a night like tonight and show me that type of love is something that Ill never forget. It was overwhelming, Rodriguez said during a news conference, looking perfectly put together in a gray suit and silver necktie.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Air Max 720 For Sale . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Wholesale Air Max 720 .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. http://www.airmax720outlet.com/ . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Cheap Air Max 720 . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Clearance Air Max 720 . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Sydney FC keep on keeping on but Melbourne Victory are hopeful of taking up the title fight after the A-Leagues big blues scored knockout round six wins.Victory earned a 3-0 win over Western Sydney on Saturday night before Sydney went one better by beating Perth 4-1 on Sunday afternoon for their sixth-straight win of the campaign.Both sides benefited from defensive howlers but their attacking strength couldnt be denied.Milos Ninkovic again starred for FC, picking up his third man-of-the-match award with a two-goal effort as Alex Brosque and Bobo completed the scoring.The Serbian said it might have been his best performance in a sky blue shirt, but better was still to come.The last six games weve played good but I think we can play much better with the ball. We just need to control more ball, he told Fox Sports.This season is going to be much better than last year.Sydney are now six points clear at the top of second-placed Melbourne City, with Brisbane third and Victory moving up to fourth.Victory midfielder Oliver Bozanic, who netted the opening goal of the game, said their result was significant.Were taking it game by game. But we want to be up there. And the only way you can do that is by winning, he told AAP.Were pushing ourselves.Its still very early in the season but tonight was very important.In his second season as a Victory marquee, Bozanic continues to polarise opinion, with many believing the 2014 World Cup Socceroo isnt putting in consistent performances worthy of his boosted wage.But the 27-year-old played a strong hand on Saturday night, and on the basis of his goal celebration, you cant accuse him of not caring.Bozanic repeatedly thumped the Victory badge on his shirt, showing his passion for the cause.The key to Victorys improvement could be sstrength in attacking depth.ddddddddddddMarco Rojas was unavailable but Mitch Austin and Fahid Ben Khalfallah - who was unplayable at times - filled in with aplomb.Second-half substitutes Jai Ingham and Max Beister also both found the net.It means Victory have plenty of routes to goal, but talented players will be missing out.Ben Khalfallah showed his endearing honesty when asked about his lack of game time after the match.To be honest Im not very happy because I want to play. Everyone wants to play and especially me, he told Fox Sports.(Coach Kevin Muscat) is the boss. He makes his calls and I respect that.Cross-town rivals Melbourne City returned to winning ways on Thursday night with a 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets that lifts them to second on the table behind Sydney FC.Captain fantastic Bruno Fornaroli netted twice to become the fastest man to 30 A-League goals while Andrew Nabbout grabbed a first-half consolation for the Jets.Brisbane were the dominant side in Adelaide on Friday night but had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Adelaide after goalkeeper Eugene Galekovics heroics.The veteran gloveman made six saves, while opposite number Michael Theo let in the Reds only shot on target for the match as Sergi Guardiola found a late equaliser.Brett Holman opened the scoring on the hour-mark with his first Australian club goal in more than 14 years.And in Central Coasts new home-away-from-home of Canberra on Saturday, Ernie Merrick became the first A-League manager to notch 100 wins with a 2-0 success.In-form Wellington Phoenix frontman Roy Krishna scored one and assisted Hamish Watson for the other in a wind-affected day in the capital. 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