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." Dit Clapper Jersey . 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CLEVELAND -- Brandon Guyer was playing for a last-place team until a trade Aug. 1.On Tuesday night, his first career game-ending hit moved his Cleveland Indians closer to their first AL Central title in nearly a decade.Guyer singled in a run with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Indians over the Kansas City Royals 2-1 to reduce Clevelands magic number for the division to six.Cleveland leads Detroit by seven games and hasnt won the Central since 2007.Guyer was acquired from the struggling Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline, and now hes contributing to a team on the brink of the postseason.Its kind of a first for me, he said. Were loose and not thinking about it much, knowing if we go out and play our game, good things are going to happen.Guyers hit off Joakim Soria landed just fair in the right-field corner and scored Coco Crisp. Guyer was the third pinch-hitter of the inning used by manager Terry Francona.Brian Flynn (1-2) walked Jose Ramirez to start the ninth, then fumbled a bunt by Crisp, batting for Lonnie Chisenhall, down the first-base line for an error.Catcher Salvador Perez threw Ramirez out at third on Abraham Almontes sacrifice attempt. Rajai Davis, batting for Tyler Naquin, hit a hard ground ball that deflected off Sorias foot and rolled to first baseman Eric Hosmer for the out.Guyer, batting for Roberto Perez, then delivered with the winner that fell in despite a sliding effort by right fielder Paulo Orlando.I wasnt sure if it was going to be fair or foul, Guyer said. I rounded first base and saw the umpire say fair and I started celebrating.The Royals, the reigning World Series champions, will be eliminated from contention in the division if they lose to Cleveland on Wednesday night.The ball was fair by a couple of inches, where you cant get to it, Royals manager Ned Yost said.Kansas City adva