Palmeiro hears enough

TORONTO (AP) Baltimore Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro is receiving a rough reception in Toronto tonight. So much so that he inserted earplugs after he was loudly booed during the game.<br> <br> Fans jeered the Orioles veteran during his first at-bat. When he came up for his second at-bat, he was sporting earplugs.<br> <br> Palmeiro struck out swinging in his first at-bat and popped out weakly to the pitcher in his second. He has been in a prolonged slump that began after he returned from a ten-day suspension for testing positive for steroids.<br> <br> Palmeiro started as the D-H, one day after interim manager Sam Perlozzo suggested he has lost his job as the Orioles&#39; regular first baseman. He&#39;s in a 2-for-24 slump and hitless in his last 16 at-bats.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)