Reporting from San Diego — Manny Ramirez made sure his presence was noticed before he even stepped on the field at Petco Park on Friday, stopping in the Dodgers dugout to preen for photographers.
"It's showtime!" he said, repeating what has apparently become his new catch phrase.
Maybe. But in that case, this was a "Not Ready for Primetime" version with Ramirez failing to get the ball out of the infield in four plate appearances before leaving in the sixth inning of the Dodgers' 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres.
The curtain opened on Ramirez's first act at 7:10, when he stepped into the batter's box for the first time since his May 7 suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. Most in the sellout crowd came to their feet, some booing, some cheering.
Ramirez struggled to get around on Chad Gaudin's fastball in that at-bat, swinging late at two pitches and fouling them down the right-field line before drawing a walk on a full-count pitch.
He then grounded out to second and shortstop in his next two at-bats before popping to second against reliever Luis Perdomo with a runner at second and two out in the sixth.
Before Ramirez had even made it back to the dugout, Juan Pierre was racing to left field to take his place with Ramirez leaving the game after 5 1/2 innings He handled his only two chances in left field flawlessly.
Ramirez took a full-count slider low and away to draw a walk his first trip to the plate. Andre Ethier followed by hitting what looked to be a double-play grounder, but with Ramirez sliding hard into second, shortstop Everth Cabrera's return throw to first was wide, allowing Rafael Furcal to scamper home from second with the game's first run, starting a five-run Dodger rally.
Ramirez hit again with two out in the second inning, bouncing the first pitch back over the mound. Gaudin got a glove on it, slowing it up for second baseman David Eckstein, who retired Ramirez at first easily. And in the fourth inning he grounded a 1-1 fastball to Cabrera, who threw him out at first.
Ramirez got his first chance in the field in the second inning when Chase Headley lined a shot toward the left-field wall. Ramirez retreated swiftly and caught the ball head-high over his right shoulder a few steps from the warning track to end the inning.
In the third, when Cabrera singled past third baseman Casey Blake with one out, Ramirez moved quickly toward the left-field line to cut the ball off and get it back to the infield quick enough to keep the runner at first.
The crowd, large and loud and anxious with anticipation, gave the proceedings a postseason feel. And Ramirez clearly relishes the spotlight.
While it may take Ramirez a while to find his timing at the plate, his gregarious, fun-loving personality was in midseason form Friday, when he joked with reporters and teammates before taking the field for batting practice.
When he emerged from the dugout, Ramirez was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos, with one fan shouting, "Steroids, steroids, steroids."
Ramirez's name was booed again when the starting lineups were announced. And while the crowd may not have been vocally supportive, it was friendly for the most part, with many decked out in Dodger blue and white, some in Ramirez jerseys, T-shirts or blue T-shirts with "Mannywood" in script across the front.
kevin.baxter@latimes.com
