Manny Ramirez walks, singles in Cactus League debut

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PHOENIX -- The Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez walked twice and singled to center against the Texas Rangers today in his spring-training debut at Camelback Ranch.

Batting third in the lineup as the Dodgers’ designated hitter, Ramirez walked twice against Texas starter Doug Mathis and then singled on a 1-2 pitch in the fifth inning before being pulled for a pinch runner.

Ramirez said his timing was off. ‘It takes time, that’s why we’re here in spring training to get a lot of at-bats, make a lot of mistakes and get it out of your system and move on to the season,” he said.

Ramirez, who recently signed a two-year, $45-million contract, had planned to play his first game Thursday. But he was scratched from the lineup after developing stiffness in his left hamstring in pre-game running drills.

After running the bases in all three at-bats today, Ramirez said his legs ‘feel great’ and that he planned to talk to Dodgers Manager Joe Torre about whether Ramirez might play his normal position of left field in the Dodgers’ game Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

-- Jim Peltz