Manny back in 'comfort zone'
Associated Press
Sunday, July 05, 2009

SAN DIEGO --- Manny Ramirez needed only five plate appearances before hitting his first post-drug suspension home run.

It wasn't enough to help Los Angeles overcome 22-year-old rookie Everth Cabrera's three RBI and brilliant defense as the San Diego Padres beat the Dodgers 7-4 on Saturday.

Ramirez homered in his second game back from his 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy.

It was his seventh homer of the season and 534th of his career, tying Jimmie Foxx for 16th on the all-time list. Up next is Mickey Mantle with 536.

Ramirez dodged reporters afterward, leaving the clubhouse through a side door.

"I think this is his comfort zone, in that batter's box, in the ballpark, in the clubhouse, something that he hasn't had for a couple of months," manager Joe Torre said. "I think it's going to take a little time, but I think it's just him getting the rust off and getting used to what he's doing."

With two outs in the first, Geer got ahead of Ramirez 0-2 before throwing an outside pitch for ball one. The right-hander then served up a 79-mph changeup that Ramirez drove an estimated 369 feet into the seats in left field for a 1-0 lead.

"I think this is the best medicine for him after having to go through what he went through," Torre said. "Again, it's not that you're feeling sorry for him because he obviously was suspended for a reason and we're past that."

Ramirez left after six innings for the second game in a row. He's 1 for 6 with a walk in two games back.

Cabrera hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh. He added an RBI infield single in the eighth, with a second run scoring on the play on third baseman Casey Blake's throwing error. Cabrera had nine assists at shortstop, including two on grounders by Ramirez that led to bang-bang plays.

"I feel very happy," Cabrera said through an interpreter. "I always wanted to play like that."

He seemed happiest that it was against the team with the best record in baseball.

"I get very motivated in those kinds of games and I like the pressure and feed off it," he said.

From the Sunday, July 05, 2009 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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