A-Rod resumes workouts as first-base option

ATLANTA -- With Mark Teixeira out of the lineup for an indefinite period of time, the Yankees have asked Alex Rodriguez to resume working out at first base, providing manager Joe Girardi with another option behind rookie Greg Bird.

Rodriguez sparked a nine-run seventh inning with a two-run pinch-hit single in the Yankees' 20-6 win over the Braves on Sunday.

"We are going to see some lefties [in Boston]," Girardi said. "I might toy around with the idea a little bit if Tex is not ready, putting him at first against one of the lefties."

The Yankees are scheduled to face left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on Monday at Fenway Park, and the Red Sox have listed left-hander Henry Owens as their probable starter for Wednesday's series finale. Right-hander Rick Porcello will go on Tuesday.

"I'll think about it," Girardi said. "Birdie has swung well against lefties as well. You could look at the splits on the lefties, where lefties have had more success than righties. But it's something I'll think about."

Teixeira has said that he is unable to run because of a deep bone bruise in his right leg, the result of an Aug. 17 foul ball. Girardi said that "there just hasn't been a lot of improvement" with Teixeira, who continues to receive treatment on a daily basis.

Video: MIN@NYY: Teixeira fouls ball off leg, leaves game

Rodriguez hasn't played the field since May 23, when he started at DH and finished the game at first base. Rodriguez hasn't started a game in the field since May 19 at Washington, when he manned third base, having since transitioned to a role as a full-time designated hitter.

Girardi said that it will be nice to have Rodriguez back in the lineup with play returning to American League rules on Monday.

"It'll be good, and we only have to deal with [Interleague Play] one more time during the course of the season, and it's not for a while [Sept. 18-20 at Mets]," Girardi said. "We have a string of American League games for a while, which will be good."

Worth noting

Girardi said that several of the Yankees' players were "still startled" by the death of a fan during Saturday's contest at Turner Field. The fan, identified as Gregory Murrey, 60, of Alpharetta, Ga., fell from Section 401 in the upper deck to a stairway between Sections 201 and 202.

"It's sad. It's extremely sad," Girardi said. "It's something you don't expect to ever happen in a game. Players saw it. There were a lot of our families in that section. I know a lot of our guys had to deal with that when they got home. It's very, very sad."

Girardi said that, having learned of the fan's passing, he considered the appropriateness of having continued the game. The incident happened in the seventh inning of Saturday's game, and play continued without interruption.

"I don't think any of us knew the condition he was in," Girardi said. "Sometimes you wonder about that, obviously. I think you have to think about it. Obviously it's in the hands of baseball and the Braves. I know some of our guys said it was hard to concentrate."