▁second , ▁more ▁extensive ▁surg ery ▁in ▁the ▁off - season . ▁ ▁After ▁missing ▁spring ▁training ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁month ▁of ▁the ▁season , ▁Rod rig uez ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁Yan ke es ▁in ▁a ▁May ▁ 8 ▁game ▁against ▁the ▁Baltimore ▁Ori oles ▁and ▁hit ▁a ▁three - run ▁home ▁run ▁on ▁the ▁first ▁pitch ▁of ▁his ▁first ▁at - bat . ▁The ▁Yan ke es ▁had ▁st umbled ▁to ▁a ▁ 1 3 – 1 5 ▁record ▁in ▁Rod rig uez ' ▁absence , ▁and ▁his ▁return ▁fort ified ▁the ▁line up ▁and ▁provided ▁much - ne eded ▁protection ▁for ▁three - hole ▁h itter ▁Mark ▁Te ix e ira , ▁who ▁was ▁a ▁not or iously ▁slow ▁st arter . ▁Rod rig uez ▁also ▁supplied ▁some ▁late - game ▁hero ics . ▁On ▁May ▁ 1 6 , ▁his ▁two - run ▁walk - off ▁home ▁run ▁in ▁the ▁bottom ▁of ▁the ▁ele vent h ▁in ning ▁gave ▁the ▁Yan ke es ▁a ▁ 6 – 4 ▁win ▁over ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Tw ins . ▁One ▁week ▁later , ▁he ▁hit ▁a ▁game - ty ing ▁solo ▁home ▁run ▁in ▁the ▁bottom ▁of ▁the ▁nin th ▁off ▁Philadelphia ▁Phill ies ▁closer ▁Brad ▁L idge ▁in ▁a ▁game ▁the ▁Yan ke es ▁would ▁go ▁on ▁to ▁win , ▁ 5 – 4 . ▁ ▁By ▁early ▁June , ▁the ▁Yan ke es ▁had ▁sur ged ▁to ▁first ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁AL ▁East . ▁The ▁club ' s ▁fort unes ▁changed ▁later