Huffman makes debut; A-Rod, Aceves recovering

Chad Huffman called the 24 hours a "whirlwind," and that description seemed to fit as good as any.

The outfielder, called up from Triple-A Scranton / Wilkes-Barre on Saturday to replace Marcus Thames, who was put on the disabled list with a mild right hamstring pull, made his major-league debut Sunday.

With about 15 family members in attendance - he wasn't sure on the exact number on red-eye flights from his native Houston - Huffman went 1-for-4, reaching on an infield single in his first at-bat in the third.

"I was just trying to calm myself down," Huffman said of the at-bat. "That was the biggest thing."

Huffman, whose teammates gave him the ball - already on display in a small case above his locker after the game - didn't have a perfect day. He was caught between second and third on Ramiro Peña's two-run single in the fourth, and he didn't get a good read on Geoff Blum's sixth-inning double.

Still, not a bad debut.

"Very happy for him," Joe Girardi said. "I think he flew half the state of Texas here today."

As for Thames, he said he's been battling slight hamstring soreness for the last week or so and aggravated it chasing down Jeff Keppinger's third-inning double Saturday.

"When I first took off is when I felt it," he said.

Thames expects to be back when his 15-day DL stint is up.

A-Rod still out

Alex Rodriguez sat out his third straight game with tightness in his right hamstring. Rodriguez, who was not in the clubhouse before or after the game, received treatment Sunday, as he did Friday and Saturday.

"Good today," Girardi said. "We'll evaluate it Tuesday and hopefully I can pencil him in."

Extra bases

RHP Alfredo Aceves threw for the first time since landing on the DL on May 12 with a strained lower back, throwing for less than 10 minutes at about "60 percent," he said. Aceves said the next step will be determined Monday, provided he has no soreness.