TRENTON, N.J. -- Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with a mammoth two-run home run against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at ARM & HAMMER Park on Wednesday night in the second game of his rehab stint with Double-A Trenton. Rodriguez is expected to be activated from the disabled list for the Yankees' 4:05 p.m. ET series finale against the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Rodriguez, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Tuesday and was slated for just two at-bats on Wednesday, came to bat in the home half of the first inning with a runner on first base and one out. Fisher Cats starter Casey Lawrence worked the 14-time All-Star into a 2-2 count before retiring him on a groundout to shortstop. Rodriguez has been on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring since May 3.
A-Rod homers in Double-A, flips bat like it's business as usual
In the second inning, Rodriguez drilled a 1-0 offering from Lawrence over the 407-foot mark to the batter's eye in straightaway center.
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"Whether you're playing in high school or playing in the Major Leagues, a home run feels good," said Rodriguez. "The ball came off of the bat nicely; you have to walk before you run. That was a good start today."
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In two games with the Thunder, Rodriguez saw 21 pitches and went 3-for-6 (two singles and a home run) with three RBIs.
"In all of my at-bats, I felt good," said Rodriguez. "I told the guys yesterday that I felt good, surprisingly. I saw the ball pretty well. I made good contact, and that last one felt good."
Rodriguez was never in a situation on Tuesday or Wednesday to let loose on the bases and test his hamstring.
"This is as loose as it is going to get," Rodriguez said of his hamstring. "Speed is not part of my game anymore; my job is to give [Yankees manager] Joe [Girardi] and the Yankees quality at-bats and to be a dangerous bat in the middle of the lineup and help the offense put up crooked numbers."