The Record Blogs: Off the Record: 'Vliet native catches A-Rod's home run No. 608 in Baltimore

'Vliet native catches A-Rod's home run No. 608 in Baltimore

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Sgt. Mark Spain, a Watervliet police officer, caught Alex Rodriguez’s go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth inning of Friday's American League East baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The New York Yankees won the game over the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3.

The Record's Mike Cioffi was able to reach Spain minutes after he caught the ball and here were the quotes he gathered:

"We have tickets for Saturday night’s game but a few friends from Watervliet were going to tonight’s game, so we got tickets from them in Section 388. Late in the game, they cleared the section out for fireworks so they moved everyone down a level and we ended up 15 rows up in left field," Spain said.

"A-Rod was up to bat and we saw the ball headed for us. I said to my son, 'It's coming right at us and I took two steps to my right and put my hand up and caught it," Spain explained. "There were other people in the row above us trying to catch it."

"My son is super-psyched and my wife is crying. She can’t believe it. It’s an unbelievable feeling. Everyone is coming up to us and taking pictures like I hit the home run. My phone has been blowing up since and I’m still in the park watching the fireworks."

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 10: Third baseman Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees celebrates with designated hitter Marcus Thames after Thames scored against the Texas Rangers on September 10, 2010 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images). Watervliet native Mark Spain caught A-Rod's career home run No. 608 in Baltimore Friday night.