Alex Rodriguez just trying to take care of business

Alex Rodriguez smiled at the thought that with Albert Pujols and his 10-year, $240-million contract in town Friday, he wasn't the biggest star in his own ballpark.

"It's kind of a different role," A-Rod said. "I'm actually enjoying just laying in the weeds and letting the other players get the big attention and focus. I'm just going to go about my business. Kind of a new role."

Rodriguez knows that's going to change if he continues to climb up baseball's all-time home run ladder. He tied former Seattle teammate Ken Griffey Jr. for fifth place with No. 630 in the Yankees' 5-0 victory over Pujols and the Angels in the home opener at Yankee Stadium.

Rodriguez, who entered the game batting .174 and was moved up to third in the lineup by manager Joe Girardi, connected on the first pitch of the bottom of the third for his first homer and RBI of the season.

The drive off Ervin Santana went over the 408-foot sign in centerfield and landed on the netting protecting Monument Park. Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and now is batting .259.

The top four on baseball's all-time home run list are Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660).

Rodriguez said he's not focusing on milestones, though he will earn $30 million in bonuses if he passes Bonds. Rodriguez, 36, has five years left on his 10-year, $275-million contract.

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"I don't allow myself to be a fan of what I'm trying to do," Rodriguez said. "I'm part of a team. I'm trying to be one of the guys and help this team win, and when it's all said and done, I can maybe be able to appreciate and look back."

Others are willing to marvel at what Rodriguez has accomplished and may yet accomplish.

"It's video-game numbers," Russell Martin said. "It's crazy."

Said Rodriguez: "You never dream of anything like this. When you come up . . . I remember being in a cab when we were about 18 years old. We were down in Miami, Derek [Jeter] and I, and we were just thinking if we could ever just get five years in the major leagues or if we could ever make a million dollars -- that would be like the biggest day of our lives. You dream of getting to the major leagues. You never dream of winning world championships or reaching milestones."

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Rodriguez came up as an 18-year-old with the Mariners in 1994, when Griffey was at his peak. Griffey is one of the few players to have been untainted by the steroid era, a claim Rodriguez cannot make after his admitted past PED use.

When asked what it meant to tie Griffey, Rodriguez said: "It definitely means I'm getting old, that's for sure. Obviously, Griff is special to me because . . . he was a teammate, he was a brother and a mentor all in one. So it was special."

Rodriguez's home run wasn't the biggest blow for the Yankees on Friday. Nick Swisher's three-run double with two outs in the first inning staked Hiroki Kuroda to a 3-0 lead, and the righthander pitched into the ninth inning for his first Yankees win. Curtis Granderson also went deep for the Yankees.

And it definitely wasn't the biggest moment. That was when Jorge Posada threw the ceremonial first pitch to his father.

So Rodriguez really was just one of the guys. Maybe it's because he hit a full-season-low 16 home runs in an injury-marred 2011 season.

Rodriguez said he's healthier this year, though he's not taking that for granted.

"There's no question in my mind if I'm healthy and have my legs under me, then I can play at a high level and I can help this team win," he said.

And he's really not going to think about passing Mays if he hits 31 more home runs this season?

"I've gotten to where I'm just focusing on one day at a time and really just putting in a lot of work and thinking about winning," Rodriguez said. "That's kind of been my approach. You take a blue-collar approach with your God-given talent and anything's possible."