--3B Alex Rodriguez declined to comment Thursday when asked about allegations that he has taken steroids since high school and continued to take steroids after joining the Yankees in 2004. The allegations are reportedly part of the biography of A-Rod by Sports Illustrated reporter Selena Roberts, who broke the news of Rodriguez's positive steroid tests in February. Rodriguez eventually admitted he took steroids but said he only did so while playing for the Rangers from 2001-03.
Rodriguez played his first game in extended spring training Thursday, going 1-for-6 with a home run and a pair of walks. --RHP Mariano Rivera gave up a home run in his second straight outing Wednesday when the Tigers' Curtis Granderson hit a three-run blast off him in the Yankees' 8-6 win. Rivera also surrendered a game-tying home run to the Red Sox's Jason Bay on April 24. It was the first time Rivera allowed homers in consecutive outings since 2003, when he allowed blasts to the Orioles on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16. He finished that season by converting his last 15 save chances and allowing just one run over his final 18 innings.
--C Jose Molina had a sacrifice bunt and a grand slam Tuesday in the seventh inning of the Yankees' 11-0 win over the Tigers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first player to record a bunt and a grand slam in the same inning since May 7, 1975, when Sal Bando performed the feat for the Athletics against the Angels.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- players the Yankees placed on the disabled list in a 24-hour span the last weekend of April.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to have to mix and match. ...We'll figure out how we get through the sixth, seventh and eighth (innings) every day." -- Manager Joe Girardi, on how he'll manage the already struggling bullpen without setup man Brian Bruney, who was recently placed on the disabled list.
