Benched A-Rod pinch hits as Yanks beat Red Sox 9-4

BOSTON — Benched from the starting lineup once again as his finale approaches, Alex Rodriguez pinch hit and flied out in the seventh inning of the New York Yankees' 9-4 comeback win against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Red Sox star David Ortiz limped off in the ninth inning after fouling a pitch off his right shin.

Rodriguez has just one start and eight at-bats in 17 games since July 22 as New York traded veterans and turned toward a youth movement.

Chants of 'We Want A-Rod"! echoed around the park at the start of the seventh. He was greeted by loud boos when he stepped out of the dugout to face Matt Barnes. They were louder when he was announced and again when he trotted back to the dugout after his flyout to right field, which dropped his batting average to .203 and extended his slump to 4 for 37 (.108).

Rodriguez had not appeared in a game since Aug. 2.

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