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Jeter Stars Vs. Yanks

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 4, 2009

TAMPA - Derek Jeter finally got to experience playing against the New York Yankees.

"It was strange running to the other dugout. I almost ran to the other side a couple of times," he said.

Normally the Yankees captain, Jeter played for the United States ahead of the World Baseball Classic and hit a two-run single in the third inning of the Americans' 6-5 victory against New York on Tuesday at Steinbrenner Field.

Jeter went 2-for-4 with a walk in a game that "seemed like an intrasquad game."

Steroids Would've 'Tempted' Straw

PORT ST. LUCIE - Darryl Strawberry understands what Alex Rodriguez is going through.

On his first day at spring training this year as an instructor with the New York Mets, Strawberry said he would have been tempted to use performance-enhancing drugs in his playing days.

"In our nature, we are competitive creatures, and we have a tremendous drive and high tolerance," Strawberry said Tuesday. "I'm not saying that was the right thing to do, but people ask me, if I was faced with it, what would I have done? If that was going on in the era of the '80s, it probably would have been in my system, too."

Strawberry hit 335 homers and had 1,000 RBIs during a 17-year career started with the Mets in 1983 and ended with the Yankees in 1999.

"It was late in the game," he said. "If you would have caught me when I was 24, 25, in the middle of my career - I was naive, stupid, just like Alex said."

Strawberry said he respects Rodriguez for making the admission, but thinks it's unfair A-Rod was the only name to become public among the 104 on a sealed list for testing positive during baseball's anonymous 2003 survey.

BRAVES: Top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson was impressive in his second spring outing, allowing an unearned run and two hits in three innings of Atlanta's 11-2 victory against Panama. Hanson, 22, struck out the side in the first.

BREWERS: Right-hander Braden Looper will miss his second straight spring training start because of a strained oblique muscle and might not be ready for Opening Day.

RED SOX: Pitcher Brad Penny was scratched from his first scheduled spring training start because of shoulder weakness, and right fielder J.D. Drew went to Boston for an injection in his lower back.

YANKEES: Alex Rodriguez has a problem with his hip, and is going to Colorado to see a specialist. An exam over the weekend revealed that Rodriguez has a cyst in his right hip. Doctors wanted to take a closer look.

Rodriguez played for the Dominican Republic team in an exhibition game against the Florida Marlins. He went 1-for-3 and left after 4 1/2 innings.

WBC: Bernie Williams is back in the batter's box.

The former New York Yankees center fielder went 1-for-2 with a walk for Puerto Rico in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers in a warm-up for the World Baseball Classic.

After two years out of baseball spent making jazz music, hanging out on the beach and enjoying time with family, Williams is playing for his native country in the WBC.

The 40-year-old Williams served as the designated hitter for Puerto Rico and didn't show much rust.

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