A-Rod returns to Yankees’ lineup By Sports Network

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez makes a play against the Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 22, 2011. (JOHN SOMMERS II/Reuters)

MINNEAPOLIS - Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is back in the lineup for Sunday’s game against Minnesota.

Rodriguez, making his return from knee surgery, is listed on the team’s lineup card — a picture of which the Yankees posted on Twitter — as batting fourth and playing third base.

He has been out since the second week of July because of a torn meniscus in his right knee. Rodriguez had been playing through the pain since suffering the injury June 19, but last played July 7 and underwent surgery four days later.

He played in four rehab games — two with Single-A Tampa and two with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — before rejoining the Yankees in Minnesota on Thursday. Rodriguez went through a number of workouts, but wasn’t ready to get back in the lineup until Sunday.

Rodriguez, who turned 36 while he was on the disabled list, hit .295 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI through his first 80 games.