VIERA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez felt some improvement in his latest rehab game on Saturday night.
Rodriguez went 1 for 2 with a run scored playing with the New York Yankees' Class A Tampa affiliate against the Brevard County Manatees.
Rodriguez played five innings. It was his first hit during his comeback after going 0 for 4 in his first two starts at Class A Charleston.
"I could see the ball better," Rodriguez said. "I thought I had better balance on the off-speed pitches."
Rodriguez, batting second and playing third base, heard scattered boos as he walked to the plate in the first inning. After taking the first two pitches for balls, he grounded out to shortstop.
In the third, he hit a one-out single to center that loaded the bases, but was erased on a double play by designated hitter Peter O'Brien.
In the fifth, Rodriguez was hit by Manatees pitcher Cody Scarpetta near the left hip he had surgery on in January. He remained in the game and scored from first on O'Brien's two-out single.
Rodriguez said he was happy that he scored from first and also for the work he got defensively at third base. He jumped to snag a first-inning line drive and handled two ground outs in the fifth.
"I'm sure my defense is going to be several weeks behind the offense," Rodriguez said. "With my type of surgery, lateral movement will be a challenge. Defensively, you have a lot more to do."
He spent part of the sixth signing autographs along the left field line before returning to the Yankees clubhouse for a workout.
Rodriguez is expected to play against the Milwaukee Brewers' Florida State League affiliate Sunday.
"Everything at this point is really not much," Rodriguez said. "It's going to take time. You're going to have to wait 10 games and then take it from there."
