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A-Rod Gets 2 Hits For Double-A Trenton In Start Of Rehab Assignment

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Rather than activate Alex Rodriguez from the disabled list, the Yankees sent him to Double-A Trenton to start an injury rehabilitation assignment.

Sidelined since straining his right hamstring on May 3, Rodriguez was 2 for 4 for the Thunder in a 3-2, 11-inning win over New Hampshire on Tuesday night. The 40-year-old designated hitter popped out, hit an RBI single to center, grounded into a forceout and singled to left.

New York is leaning toward activating him for a trip that starts Friday at Tampa Bay but could shorten Rodriguez's time in the minors if he feels good.

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The Yankees haven't missed Rodriguez, winning 13 of 18, including six in a row, in his absence. New York (22-22) got back to .500 for the first time since being 4-4 start the season with Tuesday night's 6-0 win over the Blue Jays. A-Rod was first expected to rejoin the Bombers last week in Oakland, and then for the opener against Toronto.

"We were thinking a couple of days and see where he's at," manager Joe Girardi said of the decision to send Rodriguez to Trenton. "It's more for knocking off the rust. I think we feel pretty good about his hamstring, but in saying that, it will give us a good idea of where it's really at because it's hard to simulate game activities."

Right-hander Luis Severino, on the disabled list since leaving a May 13 start with a strained right triceps, is set to pitch a rehab game Sunday for Class A Tampa at Brevard County.

Also Tuesday, the Yankees claimed right-hander Layne Somsen off waivers from Cincinnati and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 26-year-old, a 22nd-round pick in the 2013 amateur draft, made his big league debut on May 14 with a scoreless inning at Philadelphia, then allowed five earned runs two days later at Cleveland.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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