FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jason Giambi provided most of the juice when the Red Sox played the New York Yankees last night in the first reunion of the rivals since Boston's epic triumph last fall in the American League Championship Series.

New York's designated hitter, a symbol of the game's perceived steroids problem, arrived at the second annual hugely hyped exhibition game, gave a mass interview, got a hug from Boston's Kevin Millar, took batting practice and signed autographs for about 25 minutes.

Then, as two men behind the plate screamed "Steroids! Steroids! Steroids!" in the fifth inning, he sent a pitch from left-hander John Halama — a former Mariner — over the fence in right-center field for his first home run of the spring.

Giambi went 2 for 5 in New York's 9-2 win, leaving him with a .250 average (3 for 12) with two runs batted in this spring. "For the critics, it's always nice," he said. "A lot of the hard work paid off tonight."

Patrons in the crowd of 7,723 at City of Palms Park were polite during batting practice, then booed when Giambi was introduced and again before he singled sharply to right field in the first inning.

"Let's go BALCO!" chanted a group of four, referring to the laboratory in the federal investigation of steroid distribution.

Notes

• Tim Hudson's sinker looked as nasty in an Atlanta Braves uniform as it did when he was one of Oakland's Big Three.

• Wearing a Mets uniform for the first time in 15 years, a smiling Darryl Strawberry walked into the dugout and flexed his left biceps. "Don't I look great?" he said, laughing.

Strawberry, 42, will serve as a guest instructor for a few days. His playing career was derailed by drugs, alcohol and a string of arrests that included allegations of tax evasion and domestic violence.

• C.C. Sabathia likely won't start Cleveland's season opener after an MRI showed the left-hander strained a muscle in his right side. Sabathia has been told not to throw for a week.

Wedge said right-hander Jake Westbrook probably would start the April 4 opener in Chicago against the White Sox.

• In Tucson, Ariz., Joe Borchard of the White Sox homered twice in a 6-5 loss to San Francisco.

A. J. Pierzynski gave Borchard $100 for hitting a homer off Giants starter Brett Tomko, who was one of several San Francisco players who made critical comments about Pierzynski — their former teammate — last season. Tomko is a former Mariner.

• White Sox slugger Frank Thomas arrived for his first day of spring training and said his recovery from offseason ankle surgery could have him back in the lineup by the first week of April. There had been concern Thomas might not be ready until June.

• Ex-Mariner James Baldwin pitched four innings of three-hit ball as a late replacement for Baltimore starter Sidney Ponson, who was scratched from his outing because of visa problems related to his pending court case in Aruba. Baldwin, 33, hasn't given up an earned run in six innings this spring.

• Adam Eaton of Snohomish was impressive for San Diego, throwing three scoreless innings and allowing three hits and walking one as the Padres beat the Angels 4-0 in Tempe, Ariz.

• In Surprise, Ariz., Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs gave up three hits and allowed two unearned runs in two innings in his spring debut. The Cubs beat Texas 9-4.

• It hasn't taken long for Albert Pujols of St. Louis to sharpen his skills. He hit two homers and a hard double for the Cardinals in a 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Jupiter, Fla. In eight at-bats this spring, Pujols has three homers and two doubles.

Jeff Weaver, who threw the home-run pitches, allowed four runs and six hits in three innings.