Russell Martin figured his first home run of the season might prompt this kind of reaction. Not that it made it any less enjoyable.
The Dodgers catcher briefly received the silent treatment from his teammates in the dugout Saturday night at Angel Stadium after hitting a solo homer in the third inning of the Dodgers' 6-4 victory over the Angels.
"A little humor," said Martin, who had not homered since Sept. 26 against San Francisco. "It's all fun when you're winning."
Martin, who averaged 16 homers in his first two full major league seasons, had not homered in 217 at-bats this season before Saturday.
"It definitely feels good to get that first one out of the way," said Martin, who also singled twice and finished three for four. "Hopefully, they come in bunches now."
Martin said he has felt more comfortable at the plate recently after working with hitting coach Don Mattingly.
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Ramirez plans set
Dodgers Manager Joe Torre confirmed that Manny Ramirez has agreed to begin playing for triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday to prepare for his return to the Dodgers from a 50-game drug suspension.
Torre said Ramirez, who is eligible to rejoin the Dodgers on July 3, would probably be the designated hitter when the Isotopes play host to Nashville on Tuesday.
"It's just a matter of competing," Torre said of a minor league stint that could last as many as 10 games. "I think it's the idea of going and playing a game and sort of getting himself acclimated to that."
Torre said he did not know how long Ramirez would remain with Albuquerque, but sources said the left fielder would play with the Isotopes for four games before playing in as many as three games with Class-A Inland Empire.
Asked whether Ramirez would be able to play nine innings upon his return to the Dodgers early next month in San Diego, Torre said it would depend on "what happens between Tuesday and the time we activate him."
Given all the rest he's had, might Ramirez be even more durable once he gets his timing back?
"Damn right," Torre joked. "He doesn't require any days off now."
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Broxton is back
It was a situation Jonathan Broxton would have preferred to avoid.
The closer entered with a four-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday in his return from a sore toe that had forced him to miss the previous three games. Broxton walked Juan Rivera before eventually giving up a two-run home run to pinch-hitter Gary Matthews Jr., the first homer Broxton has given up this season.
