TEMPE, Ariz. – Boos coming his way from all directions, Barry Bonds slowly stepped into the batter's box for his first spring training appearance in two years and struck out swinging on six pitches.

No home run form yet for the San Francisco star – though he did single sharply to right in his third-inning at-bat. After that, he called it a day, leaving the ballpark in the top of the fourth inning.

Bonds, playing in an exhibition game against the AL West-winning Los Angeles Angels, drew some cheers Thursday during the Giants' 6-5 loss, two days after the release of excerpts from an upcoming book detailing his alleged longtime steroids regimen.

When asked about the book, Bonds said, “Baseball or nothing” and “I don't worry about that stuff.”

He noted his frame of mind is still strong – Bonds has become used to blocking out distractions in recent years.

“It's pretty good,” a smiling Bonds said of his mind-set. “I haven't shot anybody yet.”

“We love you, Barry!” one man screamed during Bonds' first at-bat against Angels right-hander Hector Carrasco, the slugger's first trip to the plate in an Arizona exhibition game since 2004. His single came off Carrasco.

After missing the entire spring schedule last year while recovering from knee surgery, Bonds decided to play Thursday. He rejoined the Giants in the morning after spending Wednesday at home in California for a child custody hearing.

He plans to play against Saturday as DH in a game against Oakland in Phoenix and hopes to play in the field Sunday at home against San Diego.

“I feel way better than last year,” said Bonds, upbeat as he munched on a sandwich back at Scottsdale Stadium. “I'll probably go through some issues wanting to play every day. I'd better do it soon to find out. I can score. I'm not going to steal. ... It felt great, man. Every day is a new day. I'll see how I feel.”

The seven-time NL MVP originally said this spring he wouldn't play in any road games, but the quick trip to Tempe is one of the shortest on San Francisco's schedule – and he had the chance to play designated hitter. Bonds often has complained of how tired his legs become standing in left field for an entire game while also spending significant time on the bases after being walked.

Manager Felipe Alou had hoped Bonds would play Thursday, but didn't list him on the original lineup. Alou quickly wrote a new one upon talking to his star cleanup hitter, who replaced Eliezer Alfonzo as DH.

Bonds waved to the clapping fans when he entered the Angels' stadium for the first time, accompanied by teenage son Nikolai. He also greeted autograph seekers as he made his way into Scottsdale Stadium for warm-up drills and batting practice.

He did a couple of twists to stretch by his locker and said little as he walked out of the clubhouse.

“I gotta go,” he said. “I gotta keep on schedule.”

The 41-year-old Bonds, who is third with 708 homers and only 48 shy of breaking Hank Aaron's career mark, had been out of the exhibition lineup after playing only 14 games last season following three operations on his right knee.

After taking several rounds of batting practice, Bonds quickly disappeared into the clubhouse.

“I've got a game to get to,” he said.

On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated released excerpts from “Game of Shadows,” written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters.

Bonds, who testified before a California federal grand jury investigating steroid use by top athletes, has always denied using performance-enhancing drugs and said his accomplishments are purely a result of hard work and talent.

In their book, authors Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams describe how Bonds started using steroids because he was jealous of the attention paid to Mark McGwire's home run race with Sammy Sosa in 1998.

BALCO, the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative founded by Victor Conte, kept track of Bonds' drug use, with folders and calendars that chronicled everything from schedules and quantities to his testosterone levels. Much of that information was obtained by federal agents when they raided the lab in September 2003.

Illinois scientist Patrick Arnold, indicted in November on three counts of allegedly supplying steroids to BALCO, is negotiating a plea deal with federal prosecutors, according to court papers filed Wednesday.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers filed papers saying they have been in lengthy discussions and have made progress toward a settlement. A hearing was set for March 24 in San Francisco federal court.