Batting fith, A-Rod homers in his return

TORONTO -- Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees lineup Saturday, though he did so in an unusual position in the batting order.

And batting fifth agreed with him just fine. But, more important, the sprained left thumb that kept him out the last six games, came through the afternoon OK.

"I've said all along if I feel pain-free, I think I'm able to do a lot of damage," Rodriguez said. "I feel pretty comfortable with my timing in the box."

Comfortable indeed.

A-Rod, batting fifth for the first time since Sept. 6, 2006, at Kansas City, singled his first time up, in the second, then highlighted the Yankees' four-run sixth with a three-run home run. "He looked really good to me," manager Joe Girardi said.

When Rodriguez took batting practice, both in the cage and on the field Friday he did so with a slightly altered grip on the bat. At the suggestion of hitting coach Kevin Long, a ring of tape was placed between his hands on the bat to alleviate pressure on the thumb.

A-Rod said he felt comfortable swinging that way Friday and had no complaints Saturday. He wouldn't go so far as to say he'll use that the rest of the season but said he likely will "for a while."

"With that tape, I don't put any pressure on my thumb so it's pretty pain free," he said. "I definitely feel good and I definitely feel energized . . . When we talked Friday when I came off the field [after BP], that's why I was so happy because I haven't felt that good in a long time. My body feels energized, my knee feels really strong. With that tape we have in the middle, hopefully that's not an issue."

Nor, A-Rod said, was batting fifth. "I'm just glad to be back in there," he said before the game. "One step at a time. Kind of working it back I guess slowly, but wherever the manager puts me, that's always fine."

Girardi said batting A-Rod fifth was related to his absence and not a desire to keep Robinson Cano hitting cleanup, where Cano has excelled.

"It's more that he's just missed time," Girardi said. "Really, he hasn't played much in the last two months. So I figured, just keep Robbie there for right now and Al gets going we can adjust our lineup as we see needed."