Manny happy returns as Dodgers get win

Published: Friday, July 3, 2009 11:52 p.m. MDT
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SAN DIEGO — Manny Ramirez looked like a guy who had missed 50 games.

Returning from his suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, the Los Angeles slugger barely hit the ball out of the infield in the Dodgers' 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

With more than half the crowd at sold-out Petco Park wearing Dodger blue and cheering him on, Ramirez went 0 for 3 with a walk. The farthest he hit the ball was a popup that second baseman David Eckstein caught in shallow center field.

He did show a good eye during his first at-bat, fouling off three pitches before walking. Right-hander Chad Gaudin brushed back Ramirez with the first pitch. Ramirez just smiled.

CARDINALS 7, REDS 4: At Cincinnati, Albert Pujols hit his club-record fourth grand slam of the season, and Jarrett Hoffpauir drove in the go-ahead runs in the ninth inning with his first career hit as St. Louis beat Cincinnati 7-4 on Friday night.

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Hoffpauir, playing his first major league game after being recalled Wednesday from Triple-A Memphis, capitalized on shortstop Paul Janish's two-out error with a bases-loaded single off Daniel Ray Herrera (1-4) to snap a 4-4 tie.

GIANTS 13, ASTROS 0: At San Fransisco, Pablo Sandoval smacked a first inning homer to lead the Giants to a 13-0 lead after just three innings and a big win over the Astros. Ryan Sadowski lasted seven innings, giving up just three hits, to get the win.

PIRATES 7, MARLINS 4: At Miami, Brandon Moss and Ramon Vazquez homered and Charlie Morton pitched six shutout innings for Pittsburgh.

Hanley Ramirez failed to drive in a run for the first time in 11 games for Florida, which was coming off a three-game sweep of Washington.

ROCKIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 0: At Denver, Jorge De La Rosa pitched eight innings, Ian Stewart hit a solo homer and the Colorado Rockies beat the slumping Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rockies have won a season-best six straight at Coors Field, and moved to 24-9 overall since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager.

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Image
Denis Poroy, Associated Press

Dodgers' Manny Ramirez grimaces during his first game back after his suspension.

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