A-Rod Homers on First Pitch Back in Majors

Alex Rodriguez walked to the plate, and a dozen fans behind the screen swung into action. Holding up giant, foam syringes, they started with the taunts. Rodriguez answered them, all right. Back in the big leagues, the Yankees star launched the first pitch he saw deep into the left-field seats for a three-run homer tonight.

A day after Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games for using a banned drug, A-Rod returned to the scene. Off the disabled list from hip surgery, he played in the majors for the first time since admitting in February that he used steroids from 2001-03. As he walked on the grass before the game, a fitting song played over the sound system at Camden Yards: "Circus," by Britney Spears. (More Alex Rodriguez stories.)