A-Rod goes for No. 600.....again

The home run drought continues for Alex Rodriguez. Well, it's only three games, but the anticipation is high for the next homer because it will be career homer No. 600. At least A-Rod is in the lineup against the Indians tonight. He left yesterday's game in the eighth inning after being hit on the left hand with a pitch.

He will play third base and hit cleanup. A-Rod hit No. 599 on Thursday. He will face former Yankee Jake Westbrook (6-6, 4.74 ERA). A-Rod is 9-for-24 (.375) with one home run against the righthander. 

I'll take you through each at-bat and we'll find out if history is made. Will A-Rod get an early birthday present? He turns 35 tomorrow. Stay tuned!  

TOP 2: The Yankees were retired in order in the first inning, so A-Rod will lead off in the top of the second inning.

A-Rod takes a fastball outside for strike one and then takes a ball in the dirt. The next pitch is a breaking ball over for strike two. He fouls off the 1-and-2 pitch to stay alive. A-Rod fouls off a changeup on the next pitch. He takes a breaking pitch that is low to make it 2-and-2. He strikes out swinging on a breaking pitch down and away. A nice pitch by Westbrook. 

TOP 4: The Yankees get their first hit of the game and it comes on a Nick Swisher home run to ensure A-Rod bats in the inning. Mark Teixeira walks and A-Rod bats with Tex on first with one out.

A-Rod fouls the first pitch off on a big swing. A-Rod then lines the second pitch to leftfield and it is called a catch by Trevor Crowe, who doubles up Tex. Certainly appeared the ball was trapped. That ends the inning.

TOP 7: A-Rod takes a curve for a strike. He takes the second pitch for a ball. The third pitch is way outside. A-Rod tries to pull an outside pitch and grounds out to short. Will he get another at-bat? 

RAYS UPDATE: The Rays lead the Tigers 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Matt Garza has a no-hitter through seven innings.

RAYS UPDATE: Garza has a no-hitter through eight innings.

TOP 9: A-Rod will face Chris Perez in the inning with Nick Swisher at first and one out. A-Rod takes the first pitch inside. Then he takes a strike. He pops up to shallow right with first baseman Matt LaPorta making the catch. A-Rod is now 0-for-4 and that could be his last at-bat of the game.

RAYS UPDATE: Garza is two outs away from a no-hitter. Gerald Laird strikes out looking for out No. 2. Garza gets Ramon Santiago to fly out for the no-hitter. It is the fifth in baseball this season.

The Yankees win, 3-2. A-Rod goes 0-for-4. The quest for No. 600 continues tomorrow on his 35th birthday.