MLB - Manny Ramirez Comes Back and the Dodgers are Defeated by the Astros
By Audrey Nolan
Manny Ramirez is back with the Dodgers. Ramirez received a warm welcome from fans at the Dodgers Stadium on Thursday during the game against the Houston Astros. The game was his first since his 50-game suspension for testing positive on a doping test. Despite Manny’s return, the Dodgers were not able to win their game against the Astros, losing with a 0-3 score.
Ramirez’s return to the Dodgers lineup was announced on July 3rd in San Diego, and since then Ramirez has enjoyed a couple of weeks of warm-ups before playing in his first official game since the suspension. Even though his return was to be marked with a large celebration, the stadium still showed empty seats. Nevertheless, tens of thousands attended.
The Houston Astros spoiled Manny’s party when, in the middle of the festivities, Wandy Rodriguez combined an eight-hitter with four relievers to seal the victory for his team. Worse, Manny was not much of a help for his team this time; he went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts, giving up five hits in six innings, striking out six and walking two in winning his fifth in a row. On the eighth, he was singled to lead but he was scratched out with a double play a few moments later.
After the game, when reporters requested the details surrounding his suspension, Ramirez declined to discuss the situation. He argued that, for him, that part of his life was over and that he had returned to the MLB to play baseball, not to chat.
"It was very tough having been on the sidelines for a long time, but the guys did a great job,” Ramirez did admit. “They're professional players, they know how to play the game and I think everybody expected the team to be in first place and that's where we are right now. Juan did a great job; he also deserved to be an All-Star. He did a great job in the time that I was gone and I'm just happy he's on my team."
Joe Torre wasn’t surprised by Ramirez’s lack of a superstar performance; Ramirez had been out for so long that some practice will be required for him to return to form. Tore went on to say that the Dodgers had had the opportunities in the game against the Astros, but the team had been unable to capitalize on them. Torre will look for improvement in the next game.
On the other hand, for Houston Astros manager Cecil Cooper, the victory was a great team effort; the Astros defeated the Dodgers with great performances, including the one by Wandy Rodriguez, whose phenomenal pitching actually eliminated Ramirez from the game. The only bad news for the Astros on the game on Thursday was that their first baseman, Lance Berkman, left the game with a left calf strain, an unfortunate loss since Berkman led the Houston team in home runs and RBIs. A full recovery may require some time.
About the Author:
Audrey Nolan is a top senior copy writer on MLB games and sports action for the online sports betting industry: http://www.instantactionsports.com. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, making sure to leave all links in place. Please do not modify any of the content.