Dodgers hold breath as Manny Ramirez leaves game in first with strained hamstring

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And Manny goes down!

Kinda slid. Sorta fell.

But did, somehow, hurt himself. It ain’t easy being 38 in baseball.

Manny Ramirez was on first with a single in the first inning Tuesday night when James Loney sent a drive into the right-center gap.

Manny had ambitions of advancing to third and rounded second, but the ball was cut off well and third base coach Larry Bowa put up the stop sign.

Manny was a dead man.

He retreated to second with sort of a flop-slide action, Giants shortstop Edgar Renteria took the throw and easily tagged Manny out. And then dropped the ball for an error.

But Manny had landed with his left foot under his right thigh on his flop/slide.

He apparently felt something almost immediately, and was quickly walking off the field.

The Dodgers later announced he had strained his right hamstring.

Matt Kemp, who had been benched for the third consecutive game, took his place.

Manny previously went on the disabled list April 23 with a strained right calf. While he was on the DL, the Dodgers called up Xavier Paul.

It would be a blow to the Dodgers if Manny has to return to the DL. He has been their hottest hitter, batting .460 with 11 RBI since June 13.

-- Steve Dilbeck