The Los Angeles Dodgers headed to eastern Phoenix on Wednesday, all set to battle the Oakland Athletics in their first true road game of their Cactus League schedule. That meant a return engagement with Manny Ramirez, who signed a minor league deal with Oakland.
"I've been watching Manny since he was 18 or 19 years old," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "I've always been amazed at the guy."
The scheduled reunion, however, didn't happen, as Ramirez was a late scratch with back stiffness. Chris Carter took Ramirez's spot in the lineup, batting cleanup as the designated hitter.
Aaron Harang started for the Dodgers, and gave up four straight hits in the first inning for two Oakland runs. Also scheduled to pitch today for the Dodgers are Kenley Jansen, Javy Guerra, Scott Elbert, and Chris Withrow. Shawn Tolleson, the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year in 2011, is on the minor league side of camp this spring but made the trip to Phoenix and is in uniform for today's game, wearing number 92.
Tyson Ross has pitched two scoreless innings so far for the A's.
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