A-Rod held hitless in latest rehab outing

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tuesday wasn't Alex Rodriguez's day, on or off the field.

Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in a rehab game with Class A Advanced Tampa on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Also, several reports released Tuesday said Rodriguez will be interviewed by Major League Baseball before the end of the week about his involvement with Anthony Bosch, leading to a potential suspension. Bosch's name has been linked to allegedly providing multiple players with performance-enhancing drugs.

When asked if a meeting was scheduled, Rodriguez said: "Not that I know of and if I did, I couldn't share it with you guys. I've been instructed not to comment on that case."

Tuesday marked Rodriguez's fifth rehab game and his third with Tampa since undergoing offseason surgery on his left hip. He is now 1-for-12 since beginning his rehab assignment a week ago.

Rodriguez seemed unfazed by the lack of positive results on the field but feels "very encouraged" with the instruction he is receiving from special advisor Reggie Jackson and director of player development Pat Roessler.

"It's great to be out there, but my focus is on what happens before the first pitch and after the last pitch," Rodriguez said, adding he does not expect his timing at the plate to be up to speed until his "10th or 12th" rehab game.

Tuesday's start was Rodriguez's first at the Yankees' Spring Training complex, and he said it "feels like March 6" to be back in Tampa.

The first half of a doubleheader was the continuation of a postponed game from June 30 in which Rodriguez did not play. The Yankees inserted Rodriguez into the eighth spot in the order, meaning he would bat third in the top of the second inning.

In his first at-bat, Rodriguez grounded out to third base on the first pitch he saw from Dunedin pitcher Jesse Hernandez. In the top of the fifth, Rodriguez struck out on three consecutive swings.

Rodriguez struck out on three pitches again in the seventh. He was removed from the game in the middle of the seventh inning.

Rodriguez successfully fielded the only ground ball hit to him to retire Dunedin's Marcus Knecht and make the first out in the bottom of the fourth inning.

"I feel like my lateral movement was better and I saw the ball much better defensively. I made a nice play and saw it well," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez plans to play Wednesday's game with Tampa as the designated hitter before returning to third base on Thursday.

Rodriguez said he speaks with Yankees manager Joe Girardi on a daily basis but has not been given a date for the next step, whether it be to Double-A Trenton or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The latest the Yankees could wait to bring him back to New York would be July 22.

"I'll be ready," he said.