Covering the bases

A-Rod, Beckett get night off

Injured Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez missed his first game of the season, out for Tuesday night's matchup with the Chicago White Sox.

Rodriguez, batting .308 with four homers and 10 RBIs, strained his right quadriceps Sunday at Baltimore. Morgan Ensberg was listed as the starting third baseman against Chicago.

Rodriguez will rejoin the team Thursday. He will be re-evaluated then to see how well his quadriceps has responded to treatment. It was unknown when he would play again.

* Josh Beckett was scratched from his start for the Boston Red Sox against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night because of a stiff neck.

Canseco interviewed by federal agents

Jose Canseco reaffirmed Tuesday that Roger Clemens did not attend a party at his house that has become a focal point of a federal investigation.

Canseco was interviewed by federal agents and answered a series of questions about a variety of subjects and about his knowledge of steroid use in baseball, said his attorney, Gregory Emerson.

The former AL MVP was questioned about his new book, "Vindicated," and "some of the issues that have arisen earlier in the [Congressional] hearings," Emerson said. "He answered fully and to the best of his knowledge."

Tigers' Cabrera, Guillen switch positions

Miguel Cabrera's tenure as the Detroit Tigers' third baseman lasted three weeks.

A month after signing Cabrera to a $152.3 million, eight-year contract, the Tigers announced Tuesday night that he would be moving to first base. Carlos Guillen, an All-Star shortstop last season, will move from first base to third.

SHORT HOPS: Starter Jake Westbrook was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled muscle in his side Tuesday, more trouble for the struggling Cleveland Indians. Westbrook, one of the few players the defending AL Central champions could count on so far this season, is 1-2 with a 2.73 ERA. This will be his fifth career trip to the DL.

* Los Angeles Angels ace John Lackey will begin a rehab assignment with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes today. The right-hander will remain with the Class A team through May 4. Lackey went on the disabled list March 21 with a strained triceps.