MLB Notebook | Fatigued Alex Rodriguez getting a two-game break

MIAMI — Following a tumultuous month at the plate, slumping third baseman Alex Rodriguez was benched Friday for two games by the New York Yankees for what he and the team called "fatigue."

The three-time AL MVP had been set to play his first regular-season games in his hometown of Miami against the Marlins.

Rodriguez said he had reserved about 100 tickets for family and friends, including his mother, and he wasn't looking forward to telling her that the only place she'll likely see him before Sunday is the bench.

"Have to tell her to save the gas money," Rodriguez said. "She's going to be disappointed."

Rodriguez is batting .145 (8 for 55) in June. He's in an 0-for-15 slump, and is hitting .212 with nine homers and 26 RBI. He was replaced Friday by Angel Berroa.

Manager Joe Girardi said Rodriguez would still be available to pinch-hit if necessary.

Rodriguez missed the start of the season following hip surgery and had played in every game since rejoining the Yankees on May 8 in Baltimore, where he homered on his first pitch. All that followed a wild offseason that included his admission he used steroids from 2001-03.

Rodriguez said his fatigue was not related specifically to his hip, but that he does have to monitor his health and take days off when necessary. He pointed out that he was on crutches two months ago.

"We have to keep this in perspective," he said.

Notes

• Detroit has extended manager Jim Leyland's contract through the 2011 season. The 64-year-old Leyland is in his fourth season managing the Tigers.

• Tom Glavine says he plans to "hang out" for the rest of the summer but is not announcing his retirement. Atlanta released the 43-year-old Glavine on June 3 after he finished a rehabilitation from offseason surgery on his left elbow and shoulder. Glavine told MLB.com he will not follow through with initial plans to file a grievance against the Braves. He has said he believes he was released for financial reasons.

• Milwaukee CF Mike Cameron has had his two-game suspension cut to one game. He appealed his suspension for making contact with plate umpire Marvin Hudson after a called third strike on June 6 against Atlanta.

• Hall of Fame slugger Hank Aaron called on Major League Baseball to do more to increase participation by blacks in the game at a panel discussion in Ohio with former athletes, civil rights scholars and activists as part of baseball's Civil Rights Game weekend.

• Roger Clemens might write a book to get his side of the story out in his nasty dispute with Brian McNamee, his former trainer who has accused Clemens of using steroids and human growth hormone. Clemens filed a defamation suit, but it is unclear if it will go to trial.

"I've already written one book earlier in my career," Clemens said in an e-mail interview posted Friday at houstonist.com. "At this point there have been many conversations about me sitting down to write another one, and I guess that is a real possibility."