Teammates celebrate No. 660 with A-Rod

BOSTON -- Four sticky towels and the unmistakable aroma of stale barley and hops served as evidence that a celebration had taken place in the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park, where Alex Rodriguez received a beer shower courtesy of his Yankees teammates.

Yankees players celebrated Rodriguez's 660th home run, tying Willie Mays for fourth place on the homer list, by drenching the slugger after the Yankees' 3-2 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

"He was just excited. Everybody was excited," Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia said. "I think it was even better that it put us up and got us a win. That was even better."

Rodriguez said that it had to have been the first bubbly bath of his career during an early May game.

Video: Must C Clutch: A-Rod ties Mays at 660, puts Yanks up

"My teammates have been incredible," Rodriguez said. "That's part, also, of why I got so emotional. I didn't expect them to be so great and gracious."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that to the players in the clubhouse, Rodriguez's home run was meaningful, considering the ups and downs of the 39-year-old's career in pinstripes. Its value outside those doors, considering his history of performance-enhancing drug use, are a debate that Girardi wants little part of.

"I mean, we're asked about it, but that's for [other] people to decide," Girardi said. "Our job is to win games, and that's what we'll focus on and put the players in the best situation to help us. But that's for everyone else to decide."

Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said that Rodriguez's pinch-hit homer off Junichi Tazawa could not have come at a better time or place.

"It was a big situation for us as a team," Gardner said. "You always want to win game one at Fenway. He came through in a big spot for us. It's not always easy to come off the bench like that cold. It's something we've been waiting for now for a few days. It is a lot of fun to be a part of."

Video: NYY@BOS: A-Rod discusses hitting homer No. 660

Reliever Dellin Betances, who worked the home half of the eighth, said that he interrupted his preparation to see Rodriguez's at-bat live.

"I was peeking as I was warming up and then I watched it as it went out of the park," Betances said. "As a kid growing up, I loved to watch him play. To be here when he ties Willie Mays is pretty special."