Rodriguez hits 500th homer

Alex Rodriguez leaned to his right and watched the ball as it sailed toward the foul pole in left. When it stayed true, he threw up his hands – the long wait for No. 500 was finally over.

Rodriguez became the youngest player in major league history to hit 500 home runs, connecting on the first pitch he saw to end a 10-day wait.

“I acted like a goofball running around the bases, but you only hit 500 once,” he said after New York beat Kansas City 16-8 on Saturday.

Rodriguez, 32, briefly stood at home plate after his first-inning drive off Kyle Davies, waiting to see where it would land.

“I didn’t know if it was going to be fair or foul. I was so relieved it stayed fair,” Rodriguez said. “I hadn’t hit one in so long.”

After more than a week of watching his teammates hit a lot of home runs, it was Rodriguez’s turn. He started trotting around the bases with a wide grin on his face as the sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium cheered wildly. He finished with three hits, along with a hug from Derek Jeter.

“I’ve conceded the fact that you can’t will yourself to hit a home run. I tried that for four or five days,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez homered eight days after his birthday and surpassed Jimmie Foxx (32 years, 338 days) as the youngest player to reach 500. He is the 22nd player to reach the mark, the second this season behind Frank Thomas.

Wells fined again

San Diego Padres left-hander David Wells has been fined $5,000 for comments he made last month, after he was suspended seven games and fined $3,000 for his animated argument with an umpire who ejected him on July 7.

Wells said he’ll appeal the new fine, just as he’s appealing the original punishment.

“What happened to our First Amendment, freedom of speech?” Wells said.

Clearing the bases

Florida Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson underwent elbow surgery and likely will be sidelined through the 2008 season. … Detroit pitcher Andrew Miller was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a left hamstring strain.