Ramirez returns as Dodgers downs Padres

SAN DIEGO // Manny Ramirez returned from his 50-game doping ban but needed to do little as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 in the National League on Friday. Playing for the first time since the suspension was handed out on May 7 for violating the Major League Baseball drug policy, Ramirez brought the Padres' home Petco Park to its feet during his first at-bat, a first-inning walk. The right-hander also grounded out twice and popped out before being replaced in left field by Juan Pierre in the bottom of the sixth. With a large contingent of Dodger supporters making their way to the sold-out stadium of 42,217 fans, Ramirez was welcomed warmly for the most part with the applause drowning out the boos. His much anticipated return included a pre-game news conference in which he apologised to fans and teammates but refused to answer questions about the banned substances that evoked his suspension. "I don't want to get into (that)," Ramirez told reporters. "I don't want to talk about my record. I just want to talk about the game. It was tough but it's over."

* With agencies