Ramirez goes 0 for 3 in Class A game
June 29, 2009
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP)—Manny Ramirez’s(notes) minor league rehab tourcontinued Sunday without a word from the suspended slugger.
Ramirez didn’t produce any hits, either, a day after a hitting leadoff homerfor the Dodgers’ Class A Inland Empire 66ers.
Sunday was the fourth minor-league rehab game for Ramirez, who is scheduledto return from his 50-game ban for violation baseball’s drug policy and rejointhe Dodgers on Friday.
Ramirez was greeted warmly by fans, some of whom wore his No. 99 jerseys andblue bandanas with long dreadlocks. Both were available at stadium concessionsfor $25 apiece.
Cheers greeted each of his three hitless plate appearances, with only atouch of boos.
He had a security escort when he left the field and headed into theclubhouse, ignoring a request to stop and speak to reporters.
Ramirez hasn’t given an interview since Major League Baseball confirmed itwas cooperating with a federal investigation into where Manny Ramirez got thedrug that resulted in his 50-game suspension.
Sixers manager Carlos Subero said Ramirez told him he wanted to play atleast seven innings. He ended up leaving after the top of the sixth. He startedin left field and led off Sunday.
“He wants to do the full thing so he can be ready,” Subero said.
Ramirez walked in his first plate appearance and was caught looking at athird strike from left-hander Alexander Torres in his next two trips to theplate. Ramirez stranded runners at second and third in with his secondstrikeout.
In the field, Ramirez did not have to make a play until he caught a fly hitdirectly to him in the fourth. It was his only catch of the day.
The media following Ramirez was fairly modest in numbers, though Subero saidhis 6-year-old son, Carlos, was stunned to see Ramirez in a 66ers uniform.
“He said, ‘Is this the Manny I play on PlayStation?”’ Subero said. “Hewas so excited.”
Ramirez left while the 66ers batted in the bottom of the sixth, and wasescorted by security to a white SUV and left without speaking to reporters.
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