A-Rod hitless in rehab for RiverDogs

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-2 and played three innings in the field in his first rehab appearance with Class A Charleston on Tuesday night.

Recovering from hip surgery performed in January, Rodriguez grounded into a 5-4-3 double play in the first inning and took a called third strike from Rome starter Williams Perez to end the third. He was lifted for a defensive replacement to start the fourth as had been expected in his first game action since October.

"I was just pretty excited to get a couple at-bats," said Rodriguez, who is expected to play for Charleston again Wednesday before moving up.

Rodriguez was tested early in the field when Rome leadoff man Kyle Wren, the son of Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren, laid down a bunt toward third on the game's first pitch. Rodriguez fielded the ball bare-handed, but his throw was not in time to beat the center fielder.

Two innings later, Braves shortstop Jose Peraza reached on a bunt single to third, the only other ball hit toward Rodriguez, who was positioned too far back to make a play. A-Rod was replaced by Francisco Rosario in the fourth.

The 37-year-old Rodriguez, who saw eight pitches, had been taking at-bats in simulated games at the Yankees Spring Training complex in Tampa, Fla., over the past week as he worked his way toward a rehab stint. His comeback has been the topic of discussion in New York in recent weeks as the three-time American League MVP has at times been at odds with the Yankees' front office on his timetable to return to the Bronx.

"It's going to be great to suit up again. It gets me one step closer to helping my team win in New York," Rodriguez told the AP before the game. "It will be the first game that I play in, in maybe over eight months. It's been a long time."

Rodriguez has 20 days for his Minor League rehab assignment -- he told the AP he'd likely need all 20 games, the maximum allowed -- although it's unclear when he will return to New York. The Yankees are expected to move him up to Class A Advanced Tampa by Thursday, although weather will play a factor in which Minor League affiliate he joins next.

Also rehabbing Tuesday was Yankees shortstop Eduardo Nunez, who led off and went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles before being replaced by Cito Culver, the Bombers' first-round pick in the 2010 Draft. Charleston also featured No. 9 prospect Dante Bichette Jr., the Yankees' top pick in 2011, and starter Jose Campos, who the organization acquired with Michael Pineda in the deal that sent Jesus Montero to Seattle in 2012.