MLB

A-ROD READY FOR MANNY JEERS

ST. PETERSBURG – Though Alex Rodriguez eyes a return from the disabled list Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, Rodriguez said he understands he set himself up for a vicious booing by Red Sox fans for helping friend Manny Ramirez celebrate when Ramirez hits his 500th home run.

“Manny wanted four people to make a video for him, and I was one of them,” Rodriguez said. “I filmed it last week.”

What does Rodriguez say to his friend upon entering the fraternity Rodriguez joined last year?

“I said, ‘Manny, I am going to make this brief because I am going to get booed. Congratulations and many more.’ ”

With the Red Sox starting a seven-game home stand tomorrow night, there is a good chance Ramirez will reach the magic number.

As for Rodriguez’ strained right quadriceps, he worked out at the minor league complex yesterday, taking 89 swings and fielding ground balls. Today he will run the bases for manager Joe Girardi at Tropicana Field.

“He says he is 90 percent, but it’s always better to see it with your own eyes,” Girardi said before last night’s 2-1 win over the Rays.

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RHP Ian Kennedy returns from a brief demotion to Triple-A today against the Rays.

“I believe he will have a good outing or we wouldn’t have called him back here,” Girardi said of Kennedy, who was 0-2 with an 8.37 ERA in six games (five starts) when sent out.

He made one start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and pitched an inning in another Monday night when it was decided he would take Kei Igawa‘s place in the rotation.

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Girardi moved Bobby Abreu up from third to second and dropped Derek Jeter from second to third in the order last night against right-hander James Shields. Jason Giambi hit fourth and Hideki Matsui was fifth in a reversal. . . . Robinson Cano‘s 4-for-4 night hiked his average to .205. It’s the first time since Opening Day when he went 1-for-3 (.333) that Cano has been above .200. In his last 37 at-bats, Cano has 14 hits (.378).

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The Yankees continue to move minor league pitchers up. Alfredo Aceves and Eric Hacker will be promoted from Tampa (Single-A) to Trenton (Double-A), and Daniel McCutchen will go from Trenton to SWB. McCutchen could be a help in the big leagues before the season is over.