READING, Pa. - Alex Rodriguez "checked a lot of boxes" Monday during his first rehab appearance with the Double-A Trenton Thunder. He ran the bases, was tested in the field several times and engaged in a lively 12-pitch at-bat with Reading left-hander Austin Wright. And he also did something he hadnt done in a months — he homered. "Its been a long time," said Rodriguez, who couldnt remember the last time he hit a home run. He struggled in the American League playoffs last fall with the New York Yankees, and hadnt done much at the plate during his first eight rehab appearances over the last two weeks following off-season hip surgery. Monday he went 2 for 4 and played seven innings in the first of what could be three games with the Yankees Double-A Eastern League affiliate. The Thunder beat the Reading Fightin Phils 6-5. The 37-year-old, 14-time All-Star was happy with every aspect of his game Monday, but especially so with his 400-foot, two-run homer to left in the fifth inning, in his third at-bat against the 23-year-old Wright. It was his first home run since Sept. 14 last season against Tampa Bay. "To take a mid-90s fastball and hit it that way, I certainly was not able to do that the last two or three months of the season last year," Rodriguez said. "Thats definitely a good check in the box. "Yeah, that one felt really good. It felt pretty awesome. Im very happy with that. The ball is definitely coming off the bat different (than it was last week)." Despite looking so good on that swing, Rodriguez said hell need the entire 20-day rehab period that began July 2 before hes ready to return to the Yankees. "(Im) about six days away," he said. "I think Im par for the course. Its a process, its one step at a time. Tonight was by far the best Ive felt." Before the game, Rodriguez met with about 20 media members and for the first time admitted that he failed to show up for a scheduled rehab game last Friday in Tampa, but said there is no riff between him and the club. "Whatever I do with the organization, I will definitely keep private," he said. "But I will tell you I think over the last several weeks we have had very productive conversations and I think were all aligned to come back on time and healthy." Rodriguez met with investigators from Major League Baseball in Tampa on Friday to face questions about the Biogenesis probe. Team officials expected him to report for a game with Class-A Tampa but he was a no-show. On Monday, he would not address the Biogenesis case or his meeting with MLB officials probing the closed anti-aging clinic. "I cant touch that part," he said. "I appreciate you asking that question, but due to the process were not allowed to talk about that, but will in due time I hope to." Rodriguez has said he used PEDs while with Texas from 2001-03, but has denied using them since. He was linked to Biogenesis in a report in January by Miami New Times. It is unknown whether Rodriguez refused to answer MLBs questions, but he struck an optimistic note when asked about the state of the game given the ongoing investigation. "I think the game is in a great place," he said. "I love the game; Ive been in love with the game since I was born. Ive spent close to 20 years playing professionally. The game is doing well, and hopefully we can focus on all the great things that are going on and keep growing the game." Deion Sanders Jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Ross Dwelley Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-charlie-garner-jersey-large-408d.html . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Leo Nomellini Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Nick Mullens Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars.STANFORD, Calif. -- Fifth-seeded Sorana Cirstea beat American Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday in the second round of the Bank of the West Classic. The 32nd-ranked Cirstea, Romanias second-ranked player, reached the semifinals last year. Shell meet unseeded Olga Govortsova in the quarterfinal. Govortsova upset second-seeded Samantha Stosur. Vandeweghe, who reached the fiinal last year, went through qualifying to gain a spot in the main draw.dddddddddddd No. 6 Varvara Lepchenko also advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Austrias Tamira Paszek. The 40th-ranked Lepchenko reached her second quarterfinal of the season. The American will face the winner of late match between top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and Francesca Schiavone. ' ' '