ARLINGTON -- After missing two games with an oblique injury, Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup on Wednesday and notched a couple of milestones with one swing in the fourth inning of the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the Rangers.
With a solo home run to left-center off starter Martin Perez, Rodriguez recorded his 100th homer at Globe Life Park and scored his 1,000th run as a Yankee.
Rodriguez has been struggling at the plate this season, and began Wednesday hitting just .145 with three extra-base hits, but he mashed his third homer in his second plate appearance after walking his first time up. He followed the homer with a double in the sixth inning and a single in the ninth.
"It's a long season, it's a work in progress. I'm always tweaking and working on things," Rodriguez said. "I'm just trying to find the cadence I had last year, and the last week or so has been a little better. ... The results weren't there, but I thought I was seeing the ball a little bit better. I liked the way the ball came off my bat the last day game in New York, and today was better."
Rodriguez spent the 2001-03 seasons with the Rangers; Wednesday's game was his 309th in Arlington. He raised his average to .329 there, his highest average anywhere he has played more than 100 games.
And most important for the Yankees right now, he raised his 2016 average 45 points in a single night after 15 mostly unproductive games.
"Maybe he's getting on track, and that's a big bat to be getting on track," manager Joe Girardi said. "He just had good at-bats tonight. and we need that to continue."