BALTIMORE — Alex Rodriguez is less than a week away from taking the biggest rehab step yet when he reports to the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa.
“I believe he will be in Tampa Monday and at that point start baseball activity,” Joe Girardi said yesterday.
Rodriguez, who is in Colorado after March 9 arthroscopic right hip surgery to repair a torn labrum, was originally slated to return to the club in the middle of May. However, a club official told The Post on Sunday that the cleanup hitter and third baseman could be ready to play late this month.
“I hope he doesn’t have a setback,” said Girardi, who had Cody Ransom at third in yesterday’s Opening Day lineup against the Orioles at Camden Yards. “As I have said all along, the next day depends on the day before. As far as (Rodriguez’ Tampa routine) I don’t have that.”
Ransom, Rodriguez’ replacement at third base, experienced a difficult Opening Day. He went 0-for-3, fanned with two on and no outs in the sixth and failed to glove a ground ball that was ruled a hit in the Orioles’ three-run fifth.
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A picture taken by Post photographer Charles Wenzelberg appears to show a fan in an Orioles jersey interfered with Johnny Damon as he tried to catch Cesar Izturis’ fly ball in the eighth inning that was ruled a homer.
“I thought I had it and then a (hand) came in,” Damon said. “I was hoping they would at least look at it, but I guess I had to throw a hissy fit for that to happen and I don’t want my daughter to see that on TV.”
Girardi argued with third-base umpire James Hoye, but Hoye wasn’t buying Girardi’s complaint that Damon was interfered with.
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Brett Gardner‘s first game as the Yankees’ center fielder was productive. Gardner went 1-for-3, scored a run, got down a sacrifice bunt and threw out Melvin Mora at the plate.
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Twenty-four members of the Yankees’ traveling party will tour the White House today. VP Joe Biden threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
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RHP Chien-Ming Wang faces RHP Koji Uehara tomorrow night and RHP A.J. Burnett draws RHP Alfredo Simon Thursday.
