Major League Baseball

A-Rod goes 2 for 4 for Trenton in start of rehab assignment

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:45 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK (AP) Rather than activate Alex Rodriguez from the disabled list, the New York 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.

''We were thinking a couple of days and see where he's at,'' manager Joe Girardi said. ''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.''

Rodriguez is 3 for 17 (.177) with a home run since 2013 against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, Toronto's scheduled starter Tuesday against New York.

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.