Braden's grandma to A-Rod: 'Stick it'

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BOSTON -- While Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden's grandmother is the latest to "stick it" to Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod is crying, "Uncle."

Following her grandson's perfect game on Mother's Day, a chuckling Peggy Lindsey joined the Braden-A-Rod feud.

"Stick it, A-Rod," said Lindsey, who was in the stands in Oakland on Sunday afternoon.

After the New York Yankees' 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night, Rodriguez was asked to address Braden's grandma's comments.

"Uncle," Rodriguez said.

This concluded a day in which Rodriguez gave various updates on his feelings toward Braden's accomplishment.

During the sixth inning of Braden's perfect game, Rodriguez, in the Fenway Park road clubhouse, was asked what he thought.

"No more about him, please," Rodriguez said before scurrying off.

Later, in the dugout at Fenway after Braden completed the perfect game, the Yankees slugger was more forthcoming.

"I've learned in my career, it is much better to be recognized for all the great things you do on the field," Rodriguez said. "Good for him, he threw a perfect game. And better yet, he beat the Rays."

Rodriguez had his own accomplishment on Sunday. His solo shot in the fourth inning Sunday night tied him with Frank Robinson for seventh place all time with 586 home runs.

Before Sunday, Braden had made more of a name for himself for his enraged reaction to Rodriguez walking across the mound back on April 22, accusing the three-time AL MVP of breaking an unwritten rule of baseball etiquette.

A day later, A-Rod still didn't see the big deal.

"I was tired," he said. "It's really not that big of a deal. I've done that maybe a few dozen times. It's the shortest route. As I said yesterday, I thought it was pretty funny."

Braden didn't.

The A's starter shouted at Rodriguez after the inning ended, then continued his rant postgame, saying how disappointed he was in the slugger.

The squabble was still making news leading up to Sunday's start, and they were going back and forth in recent days. On Friday in Boston, A-Rod said he didn't want "to extend his extra 15 minutes of fame."

As Braden celebrated the feat, Sunday night's Yankee starter, A.J. Burnett, was alone in the Fenway clubhouse and watched Braden on TV. As Braden hugged Lindsey, Burnett said out loud, to no one in particular, "Grandma, don't cross my mound."

The Yankees next face the A's on July 5 in Oakland.

Andrew Marchand covers baseball for ESPNNewYork.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Andrew Marchand

ESPNNewYork.com

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Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, ESPN New York 98.7 FM and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years at the New York Post. Follow Andrew on Twitter »