Rodriguez fades on return

Disgraced baseball star Alex Rodriguez was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos, which grew louder after striking out three times in the New York Yankees win over Detroit.

Rodriguez did little to help his team win late Friday, going 0-for-4 at the plate in a 4-3 victory in extra innings over the Detroit Tigers.

While he was heartily booed for much of the night, there was a smattering of applause for him during the pre-game introductions and prior to his first at bat.

Friday’s contest marked the first for Rodriguez at Yankee Stadium after Major League Baseball slapped the third baseman with a 211-game ban for his involvement with the Biogenesis of America Clinic.

The league banned Rodriguez and 12 other players Monday following a probe into the Florida-based clinic, which has been accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.

The three-time American League MVP Rodriguez quickly appealed the ban, but was serenaded with boos and catcalls in his first game back earlier this week in Chicago.

Rodriguez, who has been sitting out following hip surgery, received a mixed reception in his first at bat of the season as he struck out swinging on four pitches.

In his second time at the plate, he was booed again after ending the inning by striking out against pitcher Rick Porcello with a man on second base.

He struck out again in the third, and in the fifth inning he left two runners on base by lifting a harmless fly ball to right field to end the inning.

Rodriguez also struck out in the eighth for his third of the evening.