TRENTON, N.J. -- Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez saw his first game action on Tuesday night since being placed on the disabled list on May 3 with a strained right hamstring. The 14-time All-Star began a rehab assignment with Double-A Trenton at ARM & HAMMER Park and went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the team's designated hitter against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
"I think the good thing about coming down here is that you get the chance to experiment and get stronger," Rodriguez said. "I have said all along that when I come back, I want to come back good."
Rodriguez came to bat in the first inning and immediately had an opportunity to impact the game with a runner in scoring position and one out. New Hampshire starter John Anderson was able to get Rodriguez to weakly pop up his 2-2 offering to the second baseman.

MILB Video - Title: A-Rod on his rehab start - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=735200183

In the third inning, Rodriguez would have his chance for redemption against Anderson. After the New Hampshire right-hander fell behind 3-1, Rodriguez took the fifth pitch of the at-bat and rifled it through the middle of the infield and into center field for an RBI single to plate the first run of the game.
With two outs and a runner on first base, Rodriguez came to bat for the third time in the home half of the fifth inning and promptly grounded into a 6-4 forceout to end the frame.
After New Hampshire tied the game in the top-half of the frame, Rodriguez stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on with a chance to put Trenton back on top. Rodriguez took an 0-1 pitch and singled sharply into left field for his second hit of the night.
"My first day back, it was a good day," said Rodriguez. "I thought I saw the ball well and hit the ball pretty well. Everything feels good, there were no setbacks tonight."
Rodriguez was hitting just .194 (14-for-72) with five homers and 20 RBIs for the Yankees at the time of his injury.
"It took me a little bit longer to get loose and to get into a groove of my swing and to get into the cadence of the game," admitted Rodriguez.
Prior to pulling up gingerly at first base trying to beat out a double-play groundout during New York's May 2 contest at Baltimore, the 40-year old Rodriguez was hitting .307 with three home runs and seven RBIs over his previous seven games.

"There's never a good time to get hurt, but that was unfortunate timing for me," said Rodriguez. "I thought I swung the bat pretty well before I got hurt, and hopefully I can come back and continue that rhythm."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on Tuesday night that the organization plans to give Rodriguez a few days worth of swings in the Minor Leagues before evaluating his status on the big league roster.
"Our plan is a couple of days," Girardi said. "Again, we can change our mind. We're allowed to do that. And if he feels good after two days, I wouldn't hesitate to call him here."
"Tomorrow is another day, another step tomorrow," said Rodriguez. "I'm playing here tomorrow. That is the plan right now."
Rodriguez said he was not certain what the team had in store for him beyond Wednesday, but he would be ready wherever they tell him to play.
"My focus is pretty simple; when my number is called, go up and do damage," said Rodriguez.