Manny Ramirez is back, but other Dodgers provide the power in 8-5 win over Reds

Perhaps it was a coincidence.

But the Dodgers’ offensive breakout in an 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night was probably linked to the comeback of one particular player.

The player?

Johnny Cueto, the hard-throwing Reds right-hander who returned from a league-sanctioned exile for his role in a bench-clearing brawl and pitched like someone who hadn’t pitched in 11 days.

What about Manny Ramirez, you ask?

Well, Ramirez was back too, activated from his third stint on the disabled list to begin what is probably his final act with the Dodgers.

Ramirez, who last played July 16 and only one full game since June 29 because of a strained calf muscle, had no tangible effect on the game.

Batting third, he was 0 for 3, striking out twice and grounding out to second. He was replaced in the top of sixth inning in left field by Reed Johnson.

But the players around Ramirez hit, as Ryan Theriot and Andre Ethier hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning, something duplicated an inning later by Jay Gibbons and Matt Kemp.

The four home runs equaled the Dodgers’ total from their last 13 games.

Cueto, who started the game with an 11-3 record and 3.38 earned-run average, was pounded for five runs and five hits in three innings.

Ramirez’s activation cleared the way for the Dodgers to place the former All-Star on waivers, which could result in them dumping him and the remainder of his salary, if some team claims him, or trading him. Ramirez wasn’t on the waiver wire as of Saturday night, according to a baseball source with knowledge of the situation.

Because he has a full no-trade clause, Ramirez can veto a move to another team. But he is in the second year of a two-year, $45-million deal and might welcome the opportunity to audition as a designated hitter in the American League for his next contract.

At least two potential suitors, the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays, had a scout at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. The same scouts were in San Bernardino on Friday night, when Ramirez played in the final game of his minor league rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Inland Empire.

Dodger Stadium was a different place Saturday night than when Ramirez last played there almost two months ago.

The Mannywood sign in left field was long gone. The Dodgers were nearly out of contention.

Ramirez was politely applauded when he stepped into the batter’s box for his first at-bat, but those same fans booed him, albeit mildly, when he struck out.

With the Dodgers designating utility infielder Juan Castro for assignment to clear a roster spot for Ramirez, the number of outfielders on the team increased to six.

Asked how he knew Ramirez was ready to play, trainer Stan Conte replied, “He told me.”

Ramirez spent most of this month receiving treatment for his calf in Arizona, but when Conte worked him out Tuesday, he was able to run at full speed without any problems.

Club officials acknowledged they had no idea what they could expect from Ramirez.

“Am I expecting him to be sharp?” Manager Joe Torre asked. “Not necessarily, but he knows how to hit. … We’ll see. I’m certainly not going to find anything out if we keep him on the bench as a pinch hitter.”

Torre said Ramirez, who played Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for Inland Empire, would rest Sunday.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

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