New York — Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez was booed Saturday night when he returned to the mound, hours after he apologized to his teammates and fans for a physical altercation at Citi Field that resulted in his arrest and two-day suspension.

There were mostly boos when Rodriguez ran in from the outfield bullpen to begin the ninth inning with New York trailing Philadelphia by four runs. There was a second chorus of boos when he was announced — there were plenty of Phillies fans in the ballpark.

Rodriguez worked a scoreless inning in the Mets’ 4-0 loss.

Rodriguez rejoined his team three days after he was arrested and charged with third-degree assault on his girlfriend’s father following a loss to Colorado. He stood before more than two dozen TV cameras and reporters and recited a contrite statement, but did not take any questions.

“First of all, I’m extremely sorry,” Rodriguez said in a small room across the hall from the Mets’ clubhouse at Citi Field. “I want to apologize to (owners) Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon and Mr. (Saul) Katz for the incident that happened Wednesday night. I want to apologize also to the Mets fans, to my teammates. I want to apologize, of course, to the front office for the embarrassing moment that I caused. I’m looking forward to being a better person.

“Right now the plan is I’m going to be going to an anger management program,” Rodriguez said. “I cannot speak no farther about the legal stuff that we’re going through right now.”

Baseball

Jays extend Romero’s contract

Anaheim, Calif. — The Toronto Blue Jays signed left-hander Ricky Romero to a five-year, $30.1 million contract extension Saturday. The Blue Jays have an option for a sixth year that would increase the value of the contract to over $43 million.

Boston’s Ellsbury back on DL

Arlington, Texas — Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday for the third time this season with more pain in his left side.

OF Bradley to have knee surgery

Cleveland — Seattle Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday. Bradley hasn’t appeared in a game since July 26.

Guillen not in Giants’ lineup

San Francisco — Jose Guillen has gone from being unwanted on the last-place Kansas City Royals to the thick of the pennant race with the San Francisco Giants.

Guillen joined the Giants on Saturday, one day after being acquired with cash from Kansas City for a player to be named.

The Giants will wait until today to get Guillen into the starting lineup.

Basketball

U.S. crushes China in tuneup

New York — Short on size, the United States showed off a surplus of speed.

Danny Granger scored 22 points and the Americans sprinted past China, 98-51, in a scrimmage Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Auto Racing

Bodine tops at truck series event

Darlington, S.C. — Todd Bodine led the final 47 laps at Darlington Raceway on Saturday night to take his second straight victory in NASCAR’s truck series. Bodine held off pole-sitter Timothy Peters through two restarts.

Keselowski wins Nationwide

Brooklyn, Mich. — A bum clutch didn’t trip up Brad Keselowski. Neither did racing in close proximity with nemesis Carl Edwards.

Keselowski managed to make it through pit stops despite mechanical problems, then grabbed the lead on a restart with eight laps to go and pulled away to win the NASCAR Nationwide race at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday.

NFL

Ravens’ OT Gaither out 2 weeks

Owings Mills, Md. — Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Jared Gaither has a small tear in his back that will sideline him for at least two weeks.

College Football

Michigan completes hearing

Seattle — Rich Rodriguez walked briskly toward the escalator, ready to get out of a hotel ballroom and back on a plane to Michigan.

“Certainly glad this part of the process is over,” Michigan’s football coach said in his only comment Saturday afternoon after a 71/2-hour hearing before the NCAA committee on infractions.

Rodriguez spent most of Saturday holed up in a downtown hotel defending the school against NCAA claims that Rodriguez failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the Michigan football program. The NCAA has accused Michigan of five major rules violations related to practices and workouts. Michigan will likely have to wait six to eight weeks to have the case closed — barring an appeal.

Golf

American teens reach finals

Charlotte, N.C. — American teenagers Danielle Kang and Jessica Korda ousted their Canadian opponents Saturday in the U.S. Women’s Amateur to advance to the final at Charlotte Country Club.

Tennis

Roddick says he’s had mono

Mason, Ohio — Andy Roddick finally knows what’s been getting him down the last few months — a mild case of mononucleosis.

Roddick said on Saturday that one of several blood tests came back positive for mononucleosis. Doctors told him he’s probably had it for the last couple of months and should be nearly over it.

Federer, Murray to meet for title

Toronto — If Andy Murray wants to repeat his Rogers Cup men’s title he’ll have to go through a resurgent Roger Federer to do it.

Federer advanced to the Rogers Cup final Saturday with 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic, while Murray beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-4 in the first semifinal.

Murray and Federer have met 11 times, with Murray winning six times.

Soccer

Ties to be scrapped at World Cup?

Berlin — FIFA president Sepp Blatter says soccer’s governing body will consider eliminating ties in all World Cup games.

Blatter said Saturday on Germany’s Focus weekly that the dramatic change would make the tournament more interesting. He says the change could involve going to a shootout after 90 minutes of regulation or adding sudden-death overtime.

Wizards fall, 1-0

Santa Clara, Calif. — Chris Wondolowski scored his team-high seventh goal and Khari Stephenson delivered his first MLS assist to lead the San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-0 win against the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday.