A Rutgers student ended up with the ball, and the Yankees said he didn’t want to be identified. Team spokesman Jason Zillo was negotiating with the man about the ball.

“I really want it back,” Rodriguez said. “But if not, I congratulate him for catching it. Nice catch.”

In the meantime, his batting helmet was headed for the Hall of Fame.

A-Rod and Yankees fans have had an up-and-down relationship since he joined the team in 2004.

“It takes awhile in New York,” Rodriguez said. “For some people, it takes six months to a year. I think it truly took me three to four years to understand New York.”

Robinson Cano tied a career high with four hits and Bobby Abreu scored four runs for New York, which has won five of its last six to improve to a season-best 10 games over .500. Mike Myers (3-0) got the last out of the fifth to earn the win.

Davies lasted just three innings in his first start for Kansas City, which acquired him from the Braves on Tuesday for reliever Octavio Dotel. John Bale (0-1) got the loss.

Rodriguez was the overall No. 1 pick in the 1993 draft by Seattle. One year later, he became the third 18-year-old shortstop in the majors since 1900. At that point, he gave little indication that he would develop into a two-time AL MVP and one of the game’s greatest home run hitters.

A-Rod’s first home run came on June 12, 1995, against Tom Gordon and Kansas City.

Notes: Rodriguez scored three times and became the first player in major league history with 10 straight seasons of at least 35 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored.

Don't miss this on MSNBC.com Pass it on: Sons of infertile men may be next The eight biggest Olympic marketing debacles Reality show judges range from wise to wacko Cosmic Log: Is this your jetpack? Forget your inhibitions: World's sexiest islands

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

A deal on Bradley? You're buying a lemon   CTB: Panda attacks conditioning like a jelly donut GMs head out to work on offseason trades Report: Mets, Phillies interested in Figgins MLB blog: Tigers listening to offers for Granderson Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay   Celizic: MLB needs Cuban to breathe new life into game Jamie McCourt denies having affair Varitek exercises option to remain with Red Sox MLB blog: Mariners are bringing back Griffey ... why?   Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: