LoDuca has a few words at the plate

As Rodriguez rounded third, after smashing a high-five with third base coach Larry Bowa, Paul Lo Duca was waiting for him in front of the plate. Lo Duca, the Mets' catcher, turned to face Rodriguez, yelling at him as he crossed home.

Rodriguez exulted with his teammates but heard Lo Duca's ranting, turning back to him and exchanging words. The plate umpire, Tim McClelland, gently pushed Rodriguez and Giambi away before benches could empty.

LoDuca said he objected to Rodriguez’s tossing the bat and looking to the Yankees’ dugout on his way to first base. “I told Jason that I didn’t like my pitcher getting shown up like that,” Lo Duca said.

Giambi played down the incident. "Nothing went on," he said. "We just talked."

Rodriguez would not comment on Lo Duca, but Yankees Manager Joe Torre said Lo Duca’s reaction did not surprise him.

“I understand where Lo Duca was coming from,” Torre said. “But Alex wasn’t trying to show anybody up. He hit a big home run and was briefly looking to us: ‘Here, I helped you guys.’ I understand Lo Duca, but certainly it wasn’t his intent to draw attention to himself in that way.” By Tyler Kepner, NY Times, photo from NY Times

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