ESPN MLB Spring Training 2008

TAMPA, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez barreled around third base, ran through a stop sign and headed home. The throw beat him by a mile and the Tampa Bay catcher was ready, crouching and clutching the ball.

Only one thing for A-Rod to do.

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Pull up short of the plate, come to a complete stop and let Josh Paul gently tag him in the chest.

After a pair of tense spring training games that resulted in three suspensions, Rays-Yankees III was hardly a heavyweight brawl Saturday. With an extra umpire added to the crew just in case, Tampa Bay beat New York 7-2 in a peaceful split-squad exhibition.

"I think all of that is behind us. We've talked about it enough," Rodriguez said.

From the very first pitch, the Yankees and Rays decided to play nice. No hard slides, no brushbacks, not even a mean stare.

"I'm pleased with the way both teams played," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Vocal lately, it was noticeable how he kept his postgame comments brief.

A collision at home plate started the trouble between the teams last weekend, and the conflict carried over to a bench-clearing scuffle Wednesday.

If this had been the regular season, Rodriguez would've made a more serious effort to score on Jorge Posada's double in the fourth inning. Instead, he gave himself up 15 feet away.

What if he'd plowed into Paul?

"That could have been a big story," Rodriguez said, smiling.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi agreed.

"Alex probably made a good decision," he said. "I think everybody is trying to turn the page and move on."

Veteran ump Jerry Crawford was pulled off the Minnesota-Philadelphia game to join the original three-man crew, and umpire supervisor Jim McKean also attended. They felt no need to call in the managers for a pregame meeting or warnings.

"Sometimes when you have a powwow, you throw fuel on the fire. Better to let it settle down," McKean said.

And that's what happened, at least on this sunny afternoon.

"It played itself out. End of story," Crawford said.

A few fans in the sellout crowd playfully egged on the teams, but it was evident from the get-go this would be a calmer affair.

Akinori Iwamura grounded the opening pitch to first baseman Shelley Duncan, who touched the bag. Iwamura ran to first, put his head down and simply made a U-turn back to the dugout.

Their last meeting was far from routine. On Wednesday, Duncan slid with his spikes up into Iwamura, leaving a bloody cut on the second baseman's thigh; Rays right fielder Jonny Gomes rushed in to shove Duncan.

Duncan said he did not speak to Iwamura on Saturday. They had their chances when Iwamura walked, and later when Duncan reached second.

"It was a normal game. It felt nice. It was pretty cool today," the Yankees first baseman said. "The way it went about, nothing popped into my head."

Duncan and teammate Melky Cabrera were suspended three games each and Gomes was penalized two games after the latest dustup.

The suspensions will take effect at the start of the regular season unless they appeal; there have been no decisions yet. If Duncan and Cabrera sit out, they'll return April 4 -- right in time for the Rays' visit to Yankee Stadium, the first of their 18 matchups.

Tampa Bay kept its clubhouse closed longer than usual for an exhibition. When it opened, Iwamura and Paul were gone.

"We expect our teams will compete with energy and passion, and none of us -- whether as an owner, a player or a fan -- would want it any other way," Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement.

Trying to avoid any potential problems, Maddon sent Gomes and Elliot Johnson with the Rays' split squad that played Atlanta. Last Saturday, Johnson crashed into Francisco Cervelli, breaking the New York catcher's wrist.

Eric Hinske and Chris Richard hit home runs in the Rays second off Ian Kennedy. Hector Gimenez hit a long homer off Yankees reliever Kei Igawa, and Mike DiFelice later homered for Tampa Bay.

Notes: Yankees closer Mariano Rivera gave up his first run of the spring after three scoreless outings. ... Yankees LHP Billy Traber was added to the 40-man roster. RHP Andrew Brackman was put on the 60-day disabled list and will miss the season after having Tommy John surgery last year.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press