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Blue Jays honor Alomar

Former Blue Jays player Roberto Alomar won two championships with Toronto. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Former Blue Jays player Roberto Alomar won two championships with Toronto. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The Blue Jays honored former second baseman Roberto Alomar Friday night before Toronto’s home opener against the Boston Red Sox in Toronto.

Alomar was inducted into Toronto’s Level of Excellence and had a plaque bearing his name unveiled inside Rogers Centre.

Fans gave Alomar a standing ovation and cheered “Robbie, Robbie” during a pregame ceremony.

With the stadium darkened, a montage of highlights played on the scoreboard before a spotlight revealed Alomar standing on a lit platform behind second base.

“When I was a little kid, all I wanted to do was play baseball,” Alomar said. “Today, to see my name on the Level of Excellence is another dream come true.”

Alomar, who also threw out the ceremonial first pitch, broke into the majors with San Diego in 1988 but was traded to Toronto before the 1991 season, along with outfielder Joe Carter. He spent five seasons with the Blue Jays, winning back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.

Alomar was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in each of his five years in Toronto. He batted .307 over that time, the highest career mark in team history.

In addition, Alomar was named MVP of the 1992 ALCS, hitting a game-winning home run off Oakland closer Dennis Eckersley that turned the series in Toronto’s favor.

After leaving Toronto as a free agent, Alomar played for Cleveland, Baltimore, the New York Mets, Chicago White Sox and Arizona.

Clearing the bases

Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios finalized a seven-year contract that guarantees him $69,835,000, and second baseman Aaron Hill agreed to a $12 million, four-year deal. … New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi was too sick to manage against Tampa Bay because of an upper respiratory infection. … Randy Johnson got only one strikeout, gave up eight hits and allowed five earned runs over four innings in a rehab start with the minor league Tucson Sidewinders at Tucson, Ariz. … Pittsburgh Pirates closer Matt Capps agreed to a $3.05 million, two-year contract. … Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez could be sidelined another month after undergoing his second epidural in less than five weeks for lower back pain.