Sports: Around the AL

Around the AL

Compiled from Times wires

Rodriguez stellar in Rangers debut

FORT MYERS -- With a nearly flawless debut for Texas, Alex Rodriguez finally started to earn his record $252-million contract on the field.

And the All-Star shortstop hopes that puts the focus back on his play.

"This is what I love to do. This is what I do for a living," he said Saturday after getting two hits in a 7-1 win over the Boston Red Sox. "All I want to do is go out and play hard and respect the game of baseball and be judged by that, and not judged by what I do with my business life."

Before getting singles in his last two at-bats, Rodriguez walked in the first inning and scored on Rafael Palmeiro's three-run homer.

Rodriguez had two strikes in the third against Tim Wakefield, after swinging and missing badly two knuckleballs, then singled sharply to left. His day ended when he was thrown out at second trying to stretch a fifth-inning liner off Tomo Ohka.

In his only fielding chance, Rodriguez went deep in the hole and made a fully extended stab of Jose Offerman's grounder. He twisted, planted and completed the out.

ANGELS: Scheduled starter Ismael Valdes was scratched because of slight tightness in his right rib cage. ... Rookie Larry Barnes, a possible replacement for the injured Mo Vaughn, hit a two-run homer.

ATHLETICS: Oakland has started spring training 0-3 for the first time since 1989. ... American League MVP Jason Giambi hit a two-run homer that cleared the scoreboard in right-center, and Eric Chavez added two doubles against Anaheim. ... Gil Heredia struck out three in his first start.

ORIOLES: Rightfielder Albert Belle's attempt at extending his career despite a degenerative hip condition took an ominous turn when acute pain forced him to miss a game against Minnesota. He hoped to play today. "I don't want to be cold-hearted about it, but there comes a point in time when we have to put a ballclub together," manager Mike Hargrove said. ... Reliever Alan Mills took a significant step forward in his recovery from shoulder surgery by throwing batting practice. Mills, whose status for opening day is uncertain, used all his pitches and reported no pain.

RED SOX: In his spring debut, David Cone allowed two homers and five runs in the first inning against Texas. "As hard as I've worked this winter, today was a disappointment," said Cone, who pitched a perfect second inning. "I still think I can be a frontline pitcher." Cone, 38, was 4-14 with a career-high 6.91 ERA last year with the Yankees. But Boston's rotation is wide open behind Pedro Martinez. Cone has been working with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan on changing from a power pitcher to one who relies more on location. He had some trouble with his mechanics Saturday and said he has to make his delivery more compact.

WHITE SOX: Jim Parque pitched three perfect innings, getting six outs on grounders, against Arizona. Carlos Lee was 4-for-4 with a homer and two doubles, and Tony Graffanino went 3-for-3 with a double.