ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Yankees will mark the halfway point of the season today and Alex Rodriguez remains a dud. No fireworks so far on this Fourth of July.
The Rays beat the Yankees again Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, 7-4, marking the ninth straight win for Joe Maddon’s club here against the Yankees.
Rodriguez was just one of the Yankees many problems last night. This was a sloppy game for manager Joe Girardi’s club as the Yankees committing three errors, two by catcher Russell Martin. Ivan Nova allowed six runs, three earned, and Robinson Cano forgot how many outs there were in the first inning.
Rodriguez, who went 0-for-4, saw his average drop to .262. James Shields, who came into this game a mess, easily handled A-Rod in his first three at-bats.
Rodriguez struck out his first two times up, once looking, once swinging. Then in the fifth with the Yankees trailing 5-4 and a runner on second with two out, Rodriguez broke his bat grounding out to shortstop. He led off the eighth against Burke Badenhop and lifted a soft fly to right and angrily threw his bat to the turf.
Rodriguez’s frustration grows by the day.
“He just didn’t get real good swings tonight,’’ hitting coach Kevin Long said. “I thought his pitch selection could have been better.’’
You have to wonder how long Girardi can stick with Rodriguez batting third. Rodriguez is not the power threat he once was, as one scout noted. “He sure doesn’t look like a No. 3 hitter anymore,” the scout said. “They have to move Cano to three.’’
Derek Jeter led off the game with a double. Curtis Granderson hit a blistering line drive off the glove of first baseman Carlos Pena that scored Jeter as Granderson went to second. Then Rodriguez took a fastball for strike three. Cano followed with a run-scoring single and promptly forgot the outs and was doubled off first.
The tone for the night was set.
Rodriguez, who turns 37 this month, said he feels fine, but he is looking like an aging player
“It’s just been a weird year,’’ A-Rod told The Post on Monday. “I haven’t had like any peaks. I’m kind of grinding away. I’m looking for a good hot streak. I’m looking to get more doubles and drive in more runs.’’
Last night Rodriguez did not make himself available after the game. He is always the most confident player in the clubhouse. Is he beginning to lose that confidence?
Rodriguez thought a hot streak was right around the corner, beginning with this series. He went 1-for-3 with a walk in Monday night’s 4-3 loss to the Rays and drove a ball to the wall that was caught. He still is waiting to get hot.
Rodriguez has 13 home runs, 35 RBIs, nine doubles, 123 total bases (sixth on the team), as the Yankees mark the halfway point of the season today. It’s time for Rodriguez to turn it up. Today it’s a meeting with David Price. Friday begins a four-game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, and the AL East race is getting tighter.
In case anyone has forgotten, Rodriguez is signed through 2017, and if this is the beginning of the end, it’s going to be a long ride.
The Yankees need Rodriguez to produce to be the team they need to be, especially against the AL East. S-Rod was the better player last night. Sean Rodriguez had three hits, including a home run and two RBIs for the Rays.
Jeter was being written off last year at this point. Now it’s A-Rod’s turn to silence the critics.
“He’s fresh and he’s seeing the ball,’’ Girardi said of A-Rod. “He’ll turn it around.’’
He must. So far, he’s been A-Dud.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com