MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – Manny Ramirez hit a leadoff home run in his first at-bat with the 66ers and Inland Empire held off the Storm for a 7-4 win on Saturday night.

After more than a week of speculation and excitement, the superstar Dodgers outfielder suited up with the 66ers after appearing in two games with the Albuquerque Isotopes.

Batting leadoff as the designated hitter, Ramirez hit the second pitch of the game off lefthander Nick Schmidt over the wall in left for his first hit during the rehab assignment.

Ramirez, wearing number 99 in the 66ers gray road uniforms, worked a walk in his next trip to the plate in the third off Schmidt, who took a loss in his California League debut. Ramirez later singled to center to complete a 2-for-2 showing before being doubled off first base on Trayvon Robinson’s deep fly out to center. His replacement, Elian Herrera, had a double, two hits, and a pair of RBIs after Ramirez departed after the fifth inning hit.

With two outs in the third, Pedro Baez hit an opposite field RBI double before Scott Van Slyke drove in Ramirez and Baez with a two-run double to left to make it 3-0.

Inland Empire starter Steve Johnson (6-4) was excellent, retiring the side in order in four different frames and yielding just 3 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts in 7 scoreless innings. The righthander retired nine in a row at one point and fanned two in the seventh.

The 66ers led 5-0 with the bases empty and two outs in the eighth when Jake McCarter surrendered five consecutive hits, including two doubles and a triple, as the Storm pulled within a run on Felix Carrasco’s RBI double.

Marcel Prado came in from the bullpen and induced a pop out to end the eighth and closed out the game with a perfect night as the 66ers plated a pair of insurance runs.

Baez went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and Christian Lara went 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI, and three runs scored as the 66ers scored their final six runs with two outs.

Beamer Weems and Keoni Ruth (double, triple, 2 RBIs) each had two hits each for the Storm.

The 66ers (1-2, 33-40) open a three-game homestand with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Sunday at 6:05 p.m. RHP Chris Withrow (5-5, 5.08) takes the ball for the Sixers while LHP Alex Torres (5-2, 2.79) starts for the Quakes. Sunday’s game is SOLD OUT.