The Associated Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez comes to the Red Sox today - in the uniform of the Yankees.

Sure, it's spring training, but it's Yankees vs. Red Sox, and that always has an edge.

Just 4 1/2 months ago, Aaron Boone's 11th-inning homer off Tim Wakefield won Game 7 of the AL Championship Series, the finale to a memorable string of 26 games between the old rivals.

Now throw in the trade of A-Rod to New York last month after Boston's failed effort to land the AL MVP, and add in the sniping between Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and Boston boss John Henry. There's sure to be a buzz at City of Palms Park.

"It's going to be a pretty exciting day," Rodriguez said. "I think it will be a prelude to what we'll see all summer."

Just three hours after tickets went on sale by phone Jan. 17, the game was a sellout.

PHILLIES: First baseman Jim Thome broke the middle finger of his right hand during fielding drills and probably will miss the remainder of spring training.

Thome was injured Friday while taking ground balls at the Phillies' spring training complex. X-rays taken Saturday confirmed the injury.

"If this is going to happen, I'm glad it happened now," Thome said. "It's disappointing, but I can't dwell on it."

The injury is believed to be limited to the tip of the finger. Thome traveled to Philadelphia later Saturday to be examined by a specialist.

Thome is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks. Phillies general manager Ed Wade said recovery time could be as long as six to eight weeks if Thome needs to have pins inserted to stabilize a tendon.

Thome had 47 home runs and 131 RBI last season in his first year with the Phillies.

ASTROS: Andy Pettitte coasted through two scoreless innings Saturday in his spring debut with the Astros, a 9-3 win over the Braves.

The hardest-hit ball off Pettitte was a windblown, ground-rule double by Andruw Jones.

Pettitte struck out two and walked none, delighting most of the overflow crowd of 6,147.

"It was nice getting that first pitch out to start the game off," Pettitte said.

Roger Clemens makes his Houston debut today against Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla.

SHORT HOPS: Michael Restovich homered and drove in three runs for the Twins in a 6-2 victory over the Red Sox. Restovich and Matthew LeCroy each hit two-run doubles in a five-run fifth inning against Colter Bean. Byung-Hyun Kim threw two scoreless innings in his first spring start for the Red Sox.

• Tino Martinez homered in his first spring at-bat with his hometown Devil Rays and went 2-for-3 in a 7-6 victory over the Pirates.