▁longest ▁in ▁the ▁American ▁League ▁since ▁Mic key ▁Mant le ▁did ▁it ▁also ▁in ▁nine ▁straight ▁seasons ▁from ▁ 1 9 5 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 1 . ▁During ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁season , ▁he ▁also ▁became ▁the ▁young est ▁player ▁ever ▁to ▁reach ▁the ▁ 3 5 0 ▁H R ▁mark ▁and ▁the ▁third ▁young est ▁to ▁reach ▁the ▁ 1 , 0 0 0 ▁R BI ▁plate au . ▁He ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁American ▁League ▁All - Star ▁Team , ▁the ▁e ighth ▁All - Star ▁selection ▁of ▁his ▁career ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁as ▁a ▁third ▁bas eman . ▁On ▁July ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁Rod rig uez ▁was ▁hit ▁by ▁a ▁pitch ▁from ▁Br ons on ▁Ar roy o , ▁which ▁led ▁to ▁a ▁sc uffle ▁with ▁Boston ▁Red ▁So x ▁catch er ▁Jason ▁Var ite k , ▁and ▁a ▁ben ch - clear ing ▁b raw l ▁between ▁both ▁teams . ▁On ▁defense , ▁he ▁had ▁the ▁lowest ▁range ▁factor ▁among ▁non - pl ato on ▁AL ▁third ▁bas emen ▁( 2 . 3 9 ) ▁in ▁his ▁first ▁year ▁at ▁the ▁position . ▁He ▁finished ▁ 1 4 th ▁in ▁ball oting ▁for ▁the ▁AL ▁M VP ▁Award . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁AL DS , ▁Rod rig uez ▁was ▁a ▁dominant ▁h itter ▁against ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Tw ins , ▁batt ing ▁. 4 2 1 ▁and