A-Rod returns; Phillies’ tempers flare

Alex Rodriguez looked perfectly healthy in his first game back for the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez doubled twice and drove in a run Wednesday in Texas’ 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Surprise, Ariz.

Rodriguez, who played a minor-league game Tuesday, appeared in a major-league exhibition game for the first time since March 12 because of a herniated disk in his neck.

In his third at-bat, Rodriguez lined a double into the left-center gap to score Michael Young and make the score 2-1. Rodriguez added a double off the right-field wall in the seventh before being lifted for a pinch runner.

In Clearwater, Fla., Roy Halladay allowed seven runs to snap his 16-inning scoreless streak and hit Jim Thome with a pitch, nearly setting off a scrum with Phillies manager Larry Bowa.

Bowa was enraged that Halladay hit Thome in the third inning and charged out of the dugout to argue with plate umpire Eric Cooper in the fourth. The umpire had warned both teams after Phillies reliever Rheal Cormier threw two inside pitches to Halladay.

A number of players were released Wednesday — the last day teams were allowed to put players with non-guaranteed contracts on waivers to avoid paying their full salary.

Among those released were RHP Frank Castillo (Boston), RHP Danny Kolb (Texas), LHP Mike Venafro (Atlanta), RHP Giovanni Carrara (Los Angeles), RHP Matt Herges (Montreal), RHP Francisco Cordova (San Diego) and RHPs Al Levine and Joey Hamilton (Texas).

In other games:

Dodgers 14, Braves 4

At Vero Beach, Fla., Fred McGriff hit a grand slam in a seven-run first inning.

Astros 3, Tigers 2

At Kissimmee, Fla., left-hander Jeriome Robertson pitched six strong innings.

Reds 6, Red Sox 1

At Fort Myers, Fla., Jason LaRue hit a two-run homer off Pedro Martinez, and Sean Casey added two hits for Cincinnati.

Mets 11, Cardinals 0

At Jupiter, Fla., Tom Glavine allowed one hit in four scoreless innings for New York.

Orioles 4, Marlins 2

At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Rodrigo Lopez pitched five solid innings.

Twins 13, Pirates 7

At Fort Myers, Fla., Jacque Jones went 3-for-3 with a homer.

Cubs 7, Angels 6

At Mesa, Ariz., Kerry Wood pitched five innings in his first outing in more than two weeks.

Padres 9, Mariners 2

At Peoria, Ariz., San Diego jumped on Seattle reliever Arthur Rhodes for six consecutive hits to start a five-run seventh inning.

White Sox 10, Rockies 1

At Tucson, Ariz., Carlos Lee hit two home runs.

Athletics 6, Diamondbacks 4

At Phoenix, Miguel Tejada hit one of Oakland’s three home runs off Randy Johnson.

Yankees 15, Devil Rays 3

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Roger Clemens allowed two runs and four hits over five innings in his final tuneup for opening day.

Indians 4, Expos 2

At Winter Haven, Fla., Shane Spencer hit a two-run shot.

Giants (ss) 8, Fresno Grizzlies 2

At Fresno, Calif., Ruben Rivera went 4-for-4.