Rain puts no damper on A-Rod's stint with RiverDogs
CHARLESTON, S.C.-- After another rainy afternoon in Charleston, the rain subsided and the tarp came off the field in time for Alex Rodriguez to continue his rehab with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs.
Rodriguez was unable to take batting practice, but he hit in the indoor cages with his teammates to get loose for Wednesday night's tilt against the visiting Rome Braves.
"[Eduardo] Nunez and I held a meeting earlier with these guys and just answered any questions they had for us," Rodriguez said. "They had some great questions. This is a good crop of guys here."
Wednesday's game got under way shortly after 6:35 p.m. ET in front of another sellout crowd at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.
Rodriguez saw no action in the field in the first inning. He swung at the first pitch of his first at-bat and hit a high chopper to the first baseman, who fielded the ball and toss it to the pitcher covering first to retire Rodriguez.
"The kid threw 101 on his first pitch," said Rodriguez. "First it was a bunt to start the game yesterday, now this."
So much for easing A-Rod back into action. He has struggled at the plate in his first two games, but that's to be expected while he works his way back to full strength.
After a quick and easy second inning, Rodriguez saw one ball come his way in the top of the third. He fielded the grounder before starting an inning-ending around-the-horn double play with a throw to second.
Rodriguez's final at-bat came with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the third. He laid off the first offering, a ball, before falling behind in the count, 1-2, following a foul ball and a called strike.
On the fourth offering of the at-bat, he grounded out to the second baseman to end the inning and his night.
"It was nice to make contact, and it's a work in progress," he said. "If I can save all of my hits until New York, I am fine with that."
Over two games, Rodriguez is 0-for-4 with three groundouts and a strikeout.
After Rodriguez left the game, he went down the right-field line and signed autographs, working his way from the RiverDogs' bullpen to their dugout.
"I love this place," he said. "South Carolina is amazing. Signing down the right-field line, people are so generous and hospitable."
Rodriguez will work out in Charleston on Thursday before heading to Florida to join the Tampa Yankees. After playing on Friday and Saturday, he'll take Sunday off. Plans for him from there have yet to be determined.
Fellow infielder Nunez rehabbed for the second day alongside Rodriguez, finishing his evening 0-for-2 with a walk and a run. He is 2-for-5 with a pair of singles in the two-game stint.