The Associated Press

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.

He fouled out in the first inning against Ben Sheets and hit into a double play in the third.

"We talked before the fifth inning and he said he wanted to get a couple more at-bats because he was grinding," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "He was impressive."

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.

"It was like old times," Young said. "He looked like his old self out there."

Rodriguez cleanly handled all four grounders hit his way. The 27-year-old shortstop has played in all 324 games the past two seasons in Texas since signing his record $252 million, 10-year contract in December 2000.

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.

As Bowa was walking back to the dugout, he shouted and walked toward Halladay. Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca ran onto the field, and both teams came out of their dugouts. No punches were thrown, and Bowa had to be restrained by several people.

"I said, 'I don't think your control is that bad,"' Bowa said. "I shouldn't have said that. Nobody was throwing at anybody."

Halladay said he understood why Cormier threw at him.

"I hit their best player. If you are in the other situation you want to do something to protect that guy," Halladay said. "It's part of the game, but guys running all over the field, that's not part of the game."

Cormier denied throwing at Halladay and blamed it on pitching out of the windup for the first time in at least six years.

Thome left the game after he was hit above the right elbow. He said his elbow was numb and he couldn't swing a bat, but doesn't expect to miss the season opener at Florida on Monday.

"My gut feeling is it's nothing serious," Thome said.

Pat Burrell, Todd Pratt and McKay Christensen homered for the Phillies.

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 and Paul Lo Duca added a three-run homer for Los Angeles.

Astros 3, Tigers 2

At Kissimmee, Fla., left-hander Jeriome Robertson, competing for the final spot in Houston's rotation, pitched six strong innings. Astros manager Jimy Williams and second baseman Jeff Kent were ejected.

Mets 11, Cardinals 0

At Jupiter, Fla., Tom Glavine looked ready for opening day, allowing one hit in four scoreless innings for New York.

Orioles 4, Marlins 2

At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Rodrigo Lopez pitched five solid innings in his final tuneup before opening day, and Larry Bigbie hit a two-run single.

Twins 13, Pirates 7

At Fort Myers, Fla., Jacque Jones went 3-for-3 with a homer and Michael Cuddyer and Luis Rivas had three hits apiece for Minnesota.

Cubs 7, Angels 6

At Mesa, Ariz., Kerry Wood pitched five innings in his first outing in more than two weeks and said he was ready to pitch on opening day.

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.

Mariners center fielder Mike Cameron came out in the seventh with a hyperextended left knee when he fell on the warning track while chasing Gary Bennett's double. He's day-to-day.

White Sox 10, Rockies 1

At Tucson, Ariz., Carlos Lee hit two home runs and rookie Josh Stewart allowed one run in five innings to continue his impressive spring.

Athletics 6, Diamondbacks 4

At Phoenix, Miguel Tejada hit one of Oakland's three home runs off Randy Johnson. David McCarty and Adam Piatt also hit solo shots off the Big Unit, who pronounced his final spring appearance a success.

Royals 13, Giants (ss) 5

At Scottsdale, Ariz., Joe Randa homered twice and drove in four runs, and Raul Ibanez had four of Kansas City's 21 hits.

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.

Jason Giambi, Raul Mondesi, Jorge Posada, Nick Johnson and Bubba Trammell all homered for the Yankees, who scored nine runs in the second inning off Tampa Bay opening day starter Joe Kennedy.

Indians 4, Expos 2

At Winter Haven, Fla., Shane Spencer hit a two-run shot in the eighth inning for his fifth homer this spring. Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia and Montreal's Tony Armas Jr. were solid in their final outings before opening day.

Giants (ss) 8, Grizzlies 2

At Fresno, Calif., Ruben Rivera went 4-for-4, strengthening his bid to make San Francisco's opening day roster, and Edgardo Alfonzo hit a two-run double. Jason Schmidt struck out seven and allowed two unearned runs in four innings.