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CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Alex Rodriguez took his first small steps back to the Bronx and understands hes got a long, long way to go to contribute to the New York Yankees. Rodriguez played his first game since a miserable October and went hitless in two at-bats for the Charleston Riverdogs on Tuesday night. He grounded into a double play his first time up then struck out looking against 23-year-old Williams Perez to end the third before being removed from the game. It was Rodriguezs first game since undergoing left hip surgery in January. "For me, its just a great blessing to be back out there," he said. "Its been a long fight, a hard climb and I was just pretty excited to get a couple of at-bats and get in the mix." Make no mistake, though, Rodriguez is far from the form that won him three AL MVP awards and led the Yankees to their last World Series title in 2009. He couldnt make the play when Rome centre fielder Kyle Wren bunted on the games first pitch and appeared out of synch on his strikeout. "Timing is the least of my concerns, its really about the overall body," he said. "Getting the body in shape, getting your legs under you." And thats still a work in progress. Rodriguez, who will turn 38 on July 27, said earlier hed likely need all 20 days of rehab games allowed to prepare for a big league return. This, though, was a major step in that journey. "Im just happy to be back playing," he said. "I feel like a kid again." Rodriguez was tested quickly when Wren, the son of Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren, laid down a sweet bunt and beat the throw. Wren talked with his brother, Colby, on Monday night when he learned hed go against Rodriguez. "Maybe its something 10 or 15 years down the road I can tell my kids about that I played on the same field for three innings with one of the greatest players of all time and the first inning I bunted and got a hit off him," Wren said. "Thats what I was thinking." Rodriguez was focused on the bigger picture. He said a benchmark would come tomorrow morning when he sees how his body feels after this game. Rodriguez still planned to play Wednesday night before working out on Thursday. "Look, I am as curious as you guys are to see how I am going to react. Its been a while since I was in competition," he said before the game. Rome shortstop Jose Peraza also bunted down the third base line in the second inning, but Rodriguez was too far back to make a play. The RiverDogs finished a 4-2 victory over Rome about 90 minutes after Rodriguez left the game. A-Rod has been working out at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., since May. He looked healthy and enthusiastic to begin his season. His swing in the batting cage was the same simple flick thats helped him to 647 career home runs. He took grounders at third next to Yankees teammate Eduardo Nunez, whos recovering from a left oblique strain. Nunez played shortstop and went 2 for 3. Nunez was winded as he sat in front of his locker. He played four innings before coming out. "The oblique is OK. The timing is coming. Itll be a couple more games," he said. Rodriguez and Nunez enjoyed lunch Tuesday before arriving at the ballpark. "Its my first time" in South Carolina, Rodriguez said. "Great Southern hospitality so far." Players from the RiverDogs and the Rome Braves lined the dugouts to watch Rodriguez work. Its the third straight season Rodriguez has spent time in the minors coming back from injuries, and he would not comment about Major League Baseballs investigation into the now-closed Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic. Rodriguez looked smooth in the field during warm-ups, grabbing everything hit his way. His throws to first were strong and on target. When he was done with grounders, Rodriguez signed autographs for fans gathered next to the RiverDogs dugout. "Good luck to you, Alex," said Charleston resident Blanche Lloyd after getting a signed baseball. There were 8,255 who turned out at Riley Park, less than 200 from the record attendance of 8,426 set on opening night 2007. Rodriguez and Nunez were in Charleston with Pat Roessler, the Yankees director of player development based in Tampa. A-Rod hopes he can start having a positive impact on the Yankees after last years disappointing season and his benching during the AL championship series. "Ive got to tell you," Rodriguez said. "Im really, really excited. This probably has to be the hardest injury Ive tried to overcome. It has to be the longest." Yu Darvish Jersey .4 million title. 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Kyle Schwarber Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. BEREA, Ohio -- An 0-5 start and a long-term rebuild have not changed Joe Thomas resolve to finish his career with the Cleveland Browns.The Pro Bowl left tackle will not ask to be traded at the Nov. 1 deadline, according to a source close to Thomas.Thomas, 31, almost was traded a year ago to Denver at the deadline, but the Browns backed out. Had he gone to the Broncos, Thomas would have won a Super Bowl.He stayed in Cleveland, went through another coaching change and is currently on the only winless team in the NFL.Given his tenure, dependability, talent and age, Thomas could reasonably ask for a trade and not cause problems. He has played for one winning team in Cleveland since 2007, and his window to get to the playoffs closes a little every season.But Thomas wants to stay with the Browns, the source said.Thomas had no comment on the upcoming trade deadline.The Browns do not comment on trades or potential trades, but the team has made it clear in the past months it does not want to trade Thomas. Coach Hue Jackson has had nothing but positive things to say about his left tackle as well.Speculation about Thomas being traded starts every year around the deadline, and it will stir this year given the way the Browns have overhauled their roster.The Browns are in the early stages of a multiyear rebuild, so Thomas could look at the situaation and say that by the time the team is ready to win he may be 33 or 34 -- autumn for an offensive lineman.ddddddddddddBut Thomas likes Jackson, and he likes Cleveland. Though he expressed disappointment with more change after last season, the hiring of Jackson seemed to energize him. He lives in suburban Cleveland year-round and would like to finish his career with the team that drafted him.This does not guarantee a trade will not happen; another team might make an offer the Browns cant refuse.But finding a deal will be tougher than a year ago, when Denver was in need of a left tackle and the match was nearly perfect. The Browns backed out in the final minutes.Finding a trade partner this year means finding a team that needs a left tackle and is willing to plug in a 31-year-old.Another player who will surely be the subject of trade chatter is cornerback Joe Haden.However, his contract makes him a difficult acquisition. A team that acquires him would be responsible for $5.34 million of his 2016 salary cap cost.His cap cost increases to $11.2 million in 2017 and $11.1 million in 2018; $4 million of his 2017 base salary is guaranteed.The Browns would likely want a first- or second-round pick for Haden. ' ' '