ST. LOUIS—Alex Rodriguez got in his shot at David Price in five at-bats at the Naimoli Complex this morning, hitting a home run off the young lefty in an extended spring training game.

But that was about the extent of Price’s struggles. The first overall pick in last year’s draft threw 71 pitches over five innings, allowing four hits and two runs. He walked one batter—A-Rod—and struck out 10. Translation: two-thirds of the outs he recorded came on whiffs.

A-Rod led off all five innings, a common practice for rehabbers in extended spring games, and went 1-for-4 with the walk, the homer and a pair of strikeouts. He was the last batter to face Price, striking out to end the fifth.

Price is expected to make the first official start of his professional career Thursday for Vero Beach at home against Clearwater.