PHOENIX (AP) -Manny Ramirez took his carefree attitude back into the outfield where he put his hamstring to the test.
Torii Hunter’s all-out style of play in center field might have landed him on another highlight reel – this time, for a painful reason.
Ramirez was back in left field for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and said he felt fine running toward the left-field line to cut off a drive by Bill Hall in the second inning of Los Angeles’ 12-9 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.
“I thought I was going to mess it up again, but it feels pretty good,” said Ramirez, who had an ice wrap on the hamstring afterward. “I was just going to run hard and see.”
Ramirez had been kept from playing in the field since he aggravated his sore left hamstring chasing down a double against the Colorado Rockies on March 15, his only other game in left this spring. He missed six games before returning for two as the designated hitter.
“Every time you hurt your hamstring, you always have that in the back of your mind. But I want to test it,” Ramirez said. “Maybe I’m 50 percent, but who cares? It’s a long season.”
Ramirez singled, walked and was called out on strikes while playing 3 1/2 innings. He was not expected to play when the Dodgers travel to Tucson on Thursday but said he will be back in the lineup Friday.
Milwaukee left fielder Ryan Braun, meanwhile, was removed for a pinch-hitter in the fourth inning with what the Brewers called right side stiffness.
At Tempe, Ariz., Hunter tried to make another leaping catch high up on the outfield wall. But Jeff Baker’s first-inning drive hit off the padding and struck Hunter in his nose.
“I thought he went head first into the wall. I think for the most part, his playing hard keeps him away from injuries. That was a fluke,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after an 18-11 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Hunter had to leave the game, but X-rays were negative.
“He wants to play tomorrow, but I don’t think we’re going to. We’ll give him a little time to (recuperate).”
Baker hit two homers on a windy day that affected the pitchers.
Angels starter Jered Weaver was hit hard again, giving up seven hits, six runs – five earned – and three of the homers in 4 1-3 innings. He has a 7.94 ERA this spring.
“I thought his stuff did better than the results would show,” Scioscia said. “His arm felt great. His stuff was good. Just a couple of his fastballs they got out of here.”
s, who allowed 10 hits, 12 runs – 11 earned – with four walks over 3 1-3.
Marquis has allowed 22 earned runs over his past 14 innings.
In other news:
-The Florida Marlins traded right-hander Eulogio De La Cruz to the San Diego Padres.
The Marlins said they would get a player to be named or cash in the deal, while the Padres’ release just mentioned a player to be named.
-Outfielder Trot Nixon was released by the Milwaukee Brewers. Nixon, who will be 35 on April 11, was a non-roster invitee to camp. Nixon has 137 homers and 555 RBIs with a .274 average over 12 seasons, 10 with Boston.
-Tampa Bay prospect David Price was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
The No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft, Price, a left-hander, was called up last season and earned his first big league win and save – in Game 7 – in the ALCS.
The 23-year-old Price pitched 139 1-3 innings between the minors and the Rays in 2008. Tampa wants to ensure he doesn’t exceed that total by more than 20 percent this season. By starting Price at Durham, the Rays can monitor his innings and pitch count.
White Sox 5, Athletics 4
At Phoenix, Bartolo Colon, coming back from offseason elbow surgery, pitched two-hit ball and struck out four in 4 1-3 innings. He did not walk a batter.
alks.
Indians 8, Padres 4
At Peoria, Ariz., Carl Pavano rebounded from a rough outing with six strong innings, giving up seven hits and two runs. He threw 53 of 77 pitches for strikes.
Astros 4, Cardinals 3
At Jupiter, Fla., Dennys Reyes made his debut in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform Wednesday, pitching a scoreless inning of relief.
Houston’s starter Russ Ortiz worked five innings. He allowed one run on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Tigers 10, Mets 6
At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Mets left-hander Oliver Perez walked six and gave up six runs in 3 2-3 innings.
Tigers starter Nate Robertson left the game with a sprained thumb on his pitching hand. Robertson, competing for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, was hit by a throw while trying to cover first base in the bottom of the first inning.
Red Sox 2, Reds 1
At Sarasota, Fla., Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz threw six sharp innings, allowed an unearned run and three hits while lowering his spring ERA to 0.46.
Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto surrendered two hits in six scoreless innings. He struck out five and walked none.
Rays 4, Pirates 2
At Port Charlotte, Fla., Jeff Niemann helped his case for a spot in the Tampa Bay rotation with five sharp innings. He allowed a run on five hits and didn’t walk a batter.
-run homer to Adam Kennedy, over five innings. Karstens walked two and struck out five.
Nationals 6, Braves 3
At Viera, Fla., Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer and finished with two hits. The All-Star third baseman has been bothered by a muscle strain in his right side most of the spring.
Nick Johnson and Elijah Dukes each drove in two runs for Washington. Johnson finished with two hits.
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