Whether for joyous reasons or otherwise, baseball fans got to see Alex Rodriguez return to the New York Yankees' lineup and make his Spring Training debut. A-Rod had a hit in two official at bats Wednesday afternoon, but the Yankees fell short to the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1.
The final scores of early Spring Training games do not mean much -- if anything at all -- and often take the back seat to other story lines. This was the case in Tampa on March 4. Rodriguez singled in his first plate appearance of the spring after sitting out the entire 2014 season because of his suspension. MLB.com shared the video of the at bat.
A-Rod's last at bat before Wednesday came on September 25, 2013.
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports Rodriguez "heard mostly cheers when his name was announced pregame, and as he stepped into the box, the reception was almost completely positive." Rodriguez was 1 for 2 with a walk in three plate appearances. He started learning to play first base as camp began, but he served as the designated hitter in this game.
Hoch quoted the Yankees' slugger a day before the game discussing his nervousness at returning to the lineup. Said Rodriguez Tuesday,
"I'll be a little nervous, for sure. I haven't been in front of our fans for a long time. I'm excited about that. I have some challenges ahead."
The Phillies opened the scoring in the top of the second with a run-scoring single from Cord Phelps to drive home Darin Ruf. They added single runs in the fifth (Mason Williams RBI single) and seventh (Aaron Altherr RBI single).
The Yankees scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth via a sacrifice fly from Gary Sanchez to make the score 2-1 at the moment before the Phillies tacked on an insurance run.
Kevin Slowey (W: 1-0, 0.00 ERA) earned the win with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball in his first spring start. He walked no one and struck out two. Four other Phillies each took an inning or two, and Justin DeFratus (S: 1) pitched the ninth for the save, alllowing two hits and striking out one.
Yankee newcomer Nathan Evaldi (L: 0-1, 4.50) pitched well but allowed the Phillies' first run in taking the loss. He lasted two innings and allowed two hits while striking out one.