By BRIAN COSTELLO

Lance Berkman finally hit a ball hard as a Yankee – unfortunately for him it struck Alex Rodriguez in the left shin during batting practice before today’s Yankees-Red Sox game.

Rodriguez, who was taking grounders at third base, immediately hopped around in pain and then laid down in center field, writhing face down in pain. His teammates, including Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano yelled for trainer Gene Monahan.

Several other Yankees, along with Reggie Jackson ran to Rodriguez. Monahan got to the field a few minutes later. Rodriguez eventually walked off the field on his own with his left pant leg pulled up to his knee.

The initial diagnosis is a lower leg bruise at the base of the shin. He will undergo X-Rays shortly and see the team physician. A Yankees spokesman said the leg is swollen.

Berkman, who said “Oh God” after he left the batting cage, went to talk to Rodriguez as he crossed the first-base line. Rodriguez then retreated to the trainer’s room. Jeter said the ball took one hop and then hit A-Rod.

Rodriguez, 35, hit his 600th home run on Wednesday to become the youngest player to reach that milestone.