MLB

RICE RIPS JETER AT THE LLWS

BOSTON — Derek Jeter’s relationship with Jim Rice consists of the Yankees’ captain saying hello to the Hall of Fame outfielder.

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So when Jeter was informed that Rice lumped Jeter in with Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez as players kids shouldn’t use as role models during a talk at the Little League World Series, Jeter was taken back.

“Ask him, I don’t know,” Jeter said of Rice, the former Red Sox great.

Rice was critical of baggy uniform pants and dreadlocks. He also said today’s players couldn’t compete with his peers.

“I don’t wear baggy pants or have dreadlocks,” Jeter said.

“Guys that I played against and with, these guys you’re talking about cannot compete,” Rice said. “It was clean game and now they are setting a bad example for the young guys.”

Without mentioning steroids, Rice was lumping Jeter in with two performance-enhancing drug users.

Asked what current players are worthy of being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Rice said Ichiro Suzuki, Ken Griffey Jr. and Jim Thome.

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Hideki Matsui’s seven RBIs were the most by a Yankee against the Red Sox since Joe Pepitone plated seven on Aug. 29, 1964, at Yankee Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader.

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The Yankees activated lefty reliever Damaso Marte from the disabled list yesterday and optioned infielder Ramiro Pena to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Marte has been out since April with an inflamed left shoulder and recently completed a 30-day rehab (12-game) assignment. Following that he was excused for several days due to a family matter in New York.

Though Marte last pitched in the big leagues on April 25 and wasn’t very good in seven appearances (0-1; 15.19 ERA), manager Joe Girardi was looking for Marte to contribute.

“We expect to help get out left-handers,” Girardi said of Marte, who is in the first season of a three-year deal worth $12 million. “To be a situational lefty for us.”

Marte rewarded the move in the seventh inning last night when he retired David Ortiz on a fly ball and fanned Mike Lowell with the bases loaded in the seventh.

Pena has proven to be a valuable utility infielder and will definitely return when the roster’s expand Sept. 1 if not before.

Asked if he would continue to carry 13 pitchers — one above the normal dozen — Girardi said it could vary.

“We will go series by series, day by day,” Girardi said. “A lot can happen in 10 days.”

Having Marte means the Yankees have another lefty reliever to compliment Phil Coke. However, according to Girardi, Coke’s role isn’t going to change.

george.king@nypost.com