SAN DIEGO — Manny Ramriez has walked in his first at-bat since his 50-day suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy ended.
San Diego Padres right-hander Chad Gaudin brushed back the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger with his first pitch of the seven-pitch at-bat. Ramirez was then forced at second on Andre Ethier’s grounder to first.
It was a loud at-bat, with Dodgers fans standing and cheering, and Padres fans trying to drown them out with boos. The sold-out crowd at Petco Park looked and sounded more like it belonged at Dodger Stadium.
Ramirez spent the moments before the first pitch hugging and fist-bumping teammates in the dugout. He hadn’t played with them since May 6, the night before his suspension was announced.