ARod playing through ailments

Back, elbow issues not deterring slugger on tough trip

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

Alex Rodriguez has a variety of injuries but continues to play despite the pain. (AP)

• ARod hit hard on elbow »

OAKLAND -- Alex Rodriguez winced as he made his way down the first-base line on Tuesday, having been drilled on the left elbow for the second time in the Yankees' past five games.

While Rodriguez certainly wouldn't claim the repeated bruising is helping his performance at the plate, he also isn't about to use it as an excuse. For the time being, Rodriguez is prepared to keep moving forward.

"I'm not really concerned," Rodriguez said prior to Wednesday's series finale with the A's. "I'm probably just dealing with a little bit of a back [issue] and my elbow. It's all part of it. I feel pretty good up there. I felt really good up there last night. I had five quality at-bats."

Rodriguez was hit in the first inning on Tuesday by Athletics starter Vin Mazzaro, and his reaction was exacerbated by the fact that it came on almost the same tender spot where a fastball from the Blue Jays' Shawn Camp landed in the 11th inning on Aug. 12 in New York.

That injury forced Rodriguez to miss two games in Seattle, coupled with back spasms that the third baseman said he believed were related to the awkward way he dropped to the ground at Yankee Stadium.

On Tuesday, Yankees starter CC Sabathia returned fire in the bottom of the inning, throwing a fastball behind the legs of catcher Kurt Suzuki. As both benches were warned, Rodriguez was captured grinning widely by television cameras.

"I had nothing to do with that," Rodriguez said. "I never like to see that."

Rodriguez has not had the strongest road trip, batting .273 (3-for-11) with one RBI in four games at Safeco Field and the Oakland Coliseum as the Yankees look forward to a much-deserved off-day on Thursday, having played 33 games in 34 days.

But Rodriguez said that he feels he is still compiling good plate appearances -- a bases-loaded groundout against Brett Tomko on Monday notwithstanding -- and is buoyed by his five walks on the road trip.

"Walks and being in the mix," Rodriguez said. "You want to score runs and you want to get on base and help the team win. But walks are very important."

Rodriguez is hitting .273 with two home runs and six RBIs in 15 games this month, a far cry from the numbers he usually is known for. But with the Yankees' potent lineup around him, Rodriguez believes it might be enough as he tries to play through August with his surgically repaired right hip.

"I'm certainly not pressing," Rodriguez said. "I've been dealing with what I've been dealing with physically the best I can. But walks are always important, and last night was a really good night -- any time I can get on base four times."