Manny gets mixed reaction in return to Fenway Park

BOSTON - The dreadlocks are a little longer. The pants are a little baggier. The uniform number is a lot higher than when Manny Ramirez played for the Red Sox.

Returning to Fenway Park for the first time since he was traded to Los Angeles, the quirky slugger exchanged hugs with David Ortiz and other former teammates before the Dodgers played the Red Sox Friday night. He was greeted with a mixed reaction from a sellout crowd that included another former star who was both loved and hated in Boston: Roger Clemens.

Ramirez walked past a crowd of reporters in the clubhouse without stopping before the game, though when it was time for a team meeting before batting practice, he playfully yelled for the media to leave.

He was in the lineup at designated hitter, wearing his Dodgers No. 99 instead of his Red Sox No. 24. He made outs in his first two at-bats before singling and scoring in the sixth. He struck out in the seventh.

"Manny is certainly going to have a lot of emotions here," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "This was a huge part of his career. You are never blase about coming to Boston and playing in front of these fans and involved in so many pennant races and not have it be a big part of your life."

Ramirez received a loud but mixed collection of cheers and boos when he was introduced, and again when he went to the on-deck circle in the first inning. When Ramirez came to bat to lead off the second, some booed and some chanted "Manny!" But everyone stood.

Ramirez hit a looping fly ball to center for an out on the first pitch he saw from rookie Felix Doubront. He lined out to rightfield in the third, led off the sixth with a single to center and struck out looking in the seventh.

"I know the fans here love to boo," said Torre, who spent 12 years managing the archrival Yankees. "I certainly hope they understand how much Manny meant to this club and they won two World Series with him."

Clemens also left under unpleasant circumstances and then returned to face the ballclub in a much-anticipated reunion. On Friday, he walked through the press box flanked by security on his way to his seats atop the Green Monster, where he signed autographs between innings but declined to talk to reporters.

Ramirez batted .312 with 274 homers and 868 RBIs in 71/2 seasons with the Red Sox. He was the first World Series MVP in Red Sox history, earning the honor in 2004 when Boston won the title for the first time since 1918.