Alex Rodriguez will make his season debut for the New York Yankees tonight in Baltimore, joining a team that desperately needs some timely hitting.

The Yankees announced that Rodriguez would rejoin the team yesterday, a few hours after he played in his final rehabilitation game in Florida. He went 0 for 2 with two walks and put in three innings of defense, then took some extra ground balls and batting practice.

"We're all very encouraged that he's doing well and we're all anxious to get him back," said manager Joe Girardi, who learned of the decision shortly before the Yankees wrapped up a two-game series against Tampa Bay.

Rodriguez had surgery March 9 to repair torn cartilage in his right hip and has recovered more quickly than expected.

Arizona manager Bob Melvin was fired yesterday, according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke to the The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had yet to be announced. Melvin's firing comes after a disappointing start by the Diamondbacks, who entered yesterday 8Â 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

Former manager Danny Ozark, who led Philadelphia to three consecutive National League East Division titles but fell short of the World Series each time, died yesterday at his home in Vero Beach, Fla. He was 85. Ozark's streak of three consecutive NL East titles in the late 1970s is unmatched in team history. Ozark twice led the Phillies to more than 100 wins, tallying back-to-back 101-61 records in 1976 and '77. The Phillies went 90-72 under him in '78 for their third consecutive NL East title but lost in the National League Championship Series each time.

The flu is going through Cincinnati's clubhouse, forcing them to scratch first baseman Joey Votto and second baseman Brandon Phillips last night against Milwaukee.

Marquette senior Mike Van Sickle, a Pine-Richland High School graduate, will throw out the first pitch at a game tonight between the Cubs and Brewers at Miller Park. Van Sickle has a school-record 11 career golf victories at Marquette and has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the Ben Hogan Award and one of five finalists for the Byron Nelson Award.