Alex Rodriguez goes 0-for-3 but glove work improves
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez reaches for a ground ball during warm ups for a Class AA baseball game with the Trenton Thunder against the Reading Phillies. (July 15, 2013) Credit: AP
Alex Rodriguez admittedly passed "another test" of his 20-day rehabilitation assignment with the Double-A Trenton Thunder against Reading's Fightin' Phillies Tuesday night at First Energy Stadium.
It was the first time he played four consecutive games of seven innings or more.
"I feel good," said Rodriguez, who played the 10th game of his rehab. "The real test was playing these four days in a row with seven-plus innings. That was a good sign."
Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, but showed some panache in the field. Through these 10 games, A-Rod is hitting .188 (5-for-28) with a homer, six RBIs, and seven strikeouts.
It wasn't an eventful night like the previous evening in which he hit a monstrous two-run homer, his first during his stint. Still, A-Rod has his own measuring stick of success.
"I never really pay any attention to rehab statistics," he said. "I'm happy putting the barrel of the bat on the ball four times tonight and driving the ball to the outfield. I was hoping for solid contact."
A-Rod will not play in today's noon start, but will have a morning workout. His next stop could be either an extended stay with Trenton that returns home tomorrow or he'll head north to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which also plays at home tomorrow. Rodriguez said he anticipates being in the lineup somewhere tomorrow.
On a 92-degree, humid and sun-splashed evening, A-Rod didn't have any fielding chances through the first four innings. In the bottom of the fifth, A-Rod appeared a bit slow when he moved to his left toward a ball that scooted between him and shortstop Carmen Angelini.
However, Rodriguez flashed some of his vintage glove play when he fielded a one-hopper and threw quickly to begin a neat 5-4-3, around-the horn double play.
A-Rod deflected a question about a report from MLB executive director of the players union Michael Weiner, who said players under investigation in the Biogenesis investigation likely won't be suspended until next season.
"I defer to Michael because he knows a lot more than me," he said. "I won't comment on that."
After Monday's game, A-Rod said he plans to return to the Yankees "in six days" staying on target with the projected July 22nd return date.
"I hope the reaction is great," said Rodriguez about his possible return with the Yankees. "You're a human being and you want to do your best. You hope you have a good reaction. I feel so blessed going out there and playing baseball four days in a row and seven innings. I just count my blessings every day."
