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New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez walks into the batter’s box during batting practice before a spring training baseball exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Wednesday, March 4, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez returned to the New York Yankees after an absence of more than 17 months, lining a single into short left field in his first at-bat and going 1 for 2 with a walk in a 3-1 spring-training loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.

Rodriguez swung at the first four of 10 pitches he saw in three plate appearances. Batting second as New York’s designated hitter, he swung past a pair of 91 mph pitches from Philadelphia’s Kevin Slowey in the first inning.

“It’s probably the first spring training game in a long time that he’s been a little anxious,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Rodriguez has had success against Slowey, going 4 for 9 during the regular season with two doubles and a home run.

When Rodriguez came up again in the third, he grounded a 96 mph fastball from reliever Paul Clemens to shortstop for an inning-ending forceout. He walked on a full count in the sixth against Ethan Martin, loading the bases with no outs and the Yankees trailing 2-0.

He has a little more than a month to show he should be in the lineup when the Yankees open their season at home against Toronto on April 6.

There appeared to be few fans wearing shirts with Rodriguez’s No. 13; there was a scattering of spectators with the No. 2 of Derek Jeter, the Yankees captain who retired at the end of last season.

UP NEXT

Phillies: LHP Cliff Lee makes his spring training debut Thursday against Houston in Kissimmee.

Yankees: RHP Esmil Rogers starts Thursday versus Pittsburgh in Bradenton.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: LF Grady Sizemore was hit on the right knee by a Kyle Davies pitch in the fourth and left for a pinch runner later in the inning. “Just precautionary,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said.

Yankees: INF Brendan Ryan (back strain) felt sore after Tuesday’s workout and didn’t participate in outdoor drills Wednesday.

STARTING TIME

Phillies: Slowey, the winner, retired all six batters he faced other than Rodriguez. He threw 20 of 30 pitches for strikes.

Yankees: Nathan Eovaldi, obtained from Miami in a December trade, took the loss. He gave up one run and two hits in two innings, allowing Cord Phelps’ RBI single in the second. “I felt strong going out there. That’s everything I wanted to work on,” said Eovaldo.