MLB | Alex Rodriguez homers amid boos

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Back on the field, Alex Rodriguez was able to put aside the steroids scandal.

At least for a little while.

Booed and taunted by opposing fans in the Yankees' spring-training opener, Rodriguez homered and drew two walks Wednesday in a 6-1 exhibition victory over Toronto that was anything but routine.

Rodriguez then got into an SUV that, according to the New York Post's Web site, was driven by Yuri Sucart — the person identified as the cousin who provided Rodriguez with performance-enhancing drugs. The Yankees could not confirm it.

It was Rodriguez's first game since admitting he took banned drugs from 2001 to 2003 with Texas. He left after drawing a walk in the fifth inning, and signed autographs for five minutes before calling it a day.

"This is what I do. I know how to play baseball," Rodriguez said. "I just hope that's the start of something really special for this year. I feel really good about our team."

Notes

• The Los Angeles Dodgers made a fourth bid for Manny Ramirez, this time offering the enigmatic slugger a $25 million, one-year contract with a $20 million player option for 2010.

• Kerry Wood, who had a history of arm injuries with the Chicago Cubs, hasn't thrown off a mound since last weekend because of an aching back, and the Cleveland Indians will rest their new closer for a few more days before he pitches again.

• Minnesota Twins right-hander Boof Bonser is expected to miss the entire season after arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder detected partial tears in his labrum and rotator cuff.

• Colorado Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder at a Denver-area clinic. He is expected to miss the entire season.

• Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. said he could miss up to a month of spring training because of a right-shoulder impingement.

• Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada will not play for the Dominican Republic in next month's World Baseball Classic, primarily because the Dominican team has requested he play first base.

• In Goodyear, Ariz., Hall of Famer Bob Feller threw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Cleveland Indians christened their new spring-training home, then lost to the Giants 10-7.

• In Bradenton, Fla., ex-Mariner Jamie Moyer pitched two scoreless innings but the World Series champs lost their spring opener to the Pirates 8-2.