NEW YORK -- The last time the New York Yankees had been under .500 during the second half of a season was in 1995, when Alex Rodriguez was a rookie shortstop with the Seattle Mariners.But after Michael Pineda allowed three homers in a 5-3 defeat to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, New York has a losing record after the All-Star break for the first time in more than two decades.Rodriguez, who ended knuckleballer Steven Wrights perfect-game bid with two-out infield single in the fifth inning, took grounders at first base before the game. Having lost his everyday designated hitter job due to a season-long slump, A-Rod hopes to make himself more versatile as his 41st birthday approaches on July 27.Last year, I think I had over 600 at-bats, so the focus for me was to be in the lineup every day and do damage, Rodriguez said. I think this year is a different year, different circumstances, so Im open to it.Rodriguez has not played in the field this year. He had two appearances at first last season, playing the entire game April 11 against Boston and moving there for the final three outs of a blowout loss to Texas on May 23.Last year we were not able to get him comfortable. He wants to try it again, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. He came to us, and Im not going to deny a player a chance, in that sense, so the fact that he wants to try to get comfortable is a good sign.Rodriguez is hitting .221 with eight homers and 28 RBI in 190 at-bats, including .202 with five homers and 17 RBI in 129 at-bats against righties. A-Rod was 1 for 4 Friday night, when he made just his second start since June 30.I think its a mental test for him, in a sense, Girardi said. Physically, I think he has the skills. He has the hands. He has the ability to throw. He understands the game. So I think its more of a mental: Do I feel comfortable enough to go out there at first base?Girardi would like more options at first. Mark Teixeira, Dustin Ackley, Greg Bird and Chris Parmelee have all spent time on the disabled list. Now that hes back, Teixeira is restricted by his right knee.Four days has been about his limit. He gets fairly sore, Girardi said.A-Rod, whose contract runs through 2017, admitted lack of playing time sparked his decision.First base is a lot more challenging than I think people give it credit, he said. For me, its the most underrated part of a defensive team.Girardi also disclosed that struggling Nathan Eovaldi will rejoin the rotation Tuesday against Baltimore, a day after Ivan Nova starts the series opener. Eovaldi allowed two hits over 1 1/3 innings in his third relief appearance.New York is 45-46, 5 1/2 games back of the ALs second wild card and in danger of its first losing season since 1992. Only four Yankees had outstanding first halves: right fielder Carlos Beltran, and relievers Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.Consistency is the word thats going to ring out loud here, Girardi said. Thats how you put long streaks together where you win six out of seven, you win 14 out of 17, if your starting pitching is consistent. Our offense has to be consistent, where we put up runs on a consistent basis. And the other thing I think is really important is the bullpen besides the last three guys.Beltrans two-run single and Brian McCanns RBI grounder in a three-run sixth were the offensive highlights for the Yankees, who managed four hits.Pineda (3-9) had his second straight poor performance, looking frustrated as he kicked at the mound after the long balls. He gave up five runs and five hits in five-plus innings, leaving him with a 5.56 ERA and 18 home runs allowed in 18 starts this season.Its just not executing when he needs to execute, Girardi said.The 10-game homestand, which ends with three games against San Francisco, likely will determine whether the Yankees start to deal veterans before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Every loss increases the sense of urgency.Of course there is, Girardi said. You start to run out of days.IN THE SEATSIndiana Gov. Mike Pence, announced by Donald Trump as his pick for Republican vice presidential nominee, was in the crowd of 47,459, the Yankees fourth home sellout this season.UP NEXTLHP CC Sabathia (5-6) is scheduled to start Saturday for New York, and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3) for Boston following his recall from the minors on Friday. Sabathia has allowed 22 runs -- 21 earned -- in his last four starts after giving up 15 earned runs in his first 11.Vapormax Off White Cena .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Vapormax Flyknit Levně . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. http://www.vapormaxlevne.cz/ . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. Vapormax Plus Bílé . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Vapormax Plus Cz . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months.Western Bulldogs will benefit from knowing exactly what their AFL finals equation is on Sunday, when a frantic race to September ends in Perth.The Bulldogs can finish as high as fourth on the ladder if four results go their way in the last round of the season.On the flipside they could remain in seventh spot - regardless of how emphatic the victory they hope to enjoy over Fremantle might be.The Bulldogs are one of three sides on 15 wins, while ladder-leaders Sydney are one of four clubs to have already banked 16 victories.It means there are still plenty of unknowns and different scenarios that could play out as the jostling for a home final continues.The Bulldogs at least have one ace up their sleeve: their game starts at 4.40pm AEST on Sunday when the picture will be a lot clearer.Well have a fair idea of whether theres an opportunity (to climb up the ladder) or whether things cant change, depending on what happens in the other games, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.So wwell need to process whatever happens before we play.ddddddddddddIf you start thinking too much about outcomes before you run out .. it can get to you and can be your achilles heel ultimately.All that matters is you focus on the actual process of doing your best to win.Beveridge was surprised to hear his side are still in the mix for a top-four berth.The Bulldogs will earn a double chance in finals if they win, while West Coast, Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn all lose.They would also need to bridge a percentage gap of 2.3 to overtake the Hawks.Whether thats a reach or not, I dont know. Who knows, stranger things have happened, Beveridge said.Well travel to Western Australia with a team intent on finishing the home-and-away season on a positive.And making sure weve got some momentum coming into the week off.Who knows how the cards might fall. ' ' '