HOUSTON -- Alex Rodriguez walked into the visitor's clubhouse at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday afternoon wearing a nice dress shirt and jeans. He strolled over to his locker before changing into a midnight navy shirt and green shorts.
Rodriguez then sat down and began to roll up his high socks when pitcher Michael Pineda, who went seven innings in the Yankees' 2-1 win over the Astros Monday night, greeted Rodriguez, fist bumped the veteran and uttered a single phrase.
"Feliz cumpleaños," Pineda said.
It was Rodriguez's 41st birthday, but the three-time American League MVP Award winner and 14-time All-Star was not in the lineup for the fourth consecutive game.