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Manny Ramirez blasts pinch-hit grand slam into Mannywood

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Vin Scully called the reaction of tonight’s pinch-hit grand slam by Manny Ramirez off the first pitch by Red reliever Nick Masset the loudest he’s heard Dodger Stadium in 20 years.

Much more, including video and many photos after the jump...


Everything about the situation was Hollywood: Manny had to sit out of the starting lineup, his hand hurt so bad he didn’t take batting practice, the bases were loaded, a sold-out crowd, it was Manny bobblehead night, he connected on the first pitch, and the ball got deposited into the left field seats known as Mannywood.

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‘Just the way he was sort of stalking around the dugout, I had a feeling he would do something if he got the opportunity,’ Dodger Manager Joe Torre said.

The grand slam is Ramirez’s 21st, which is only two behind all-time leader Lou Gehrig.

It was Manny’s first pinch-hit homer of his career, one that helped the Dodgers sweep the Reds.

But the question is did losing Manager Dusty Baker end up getting a bobblehead for his 10-year old son, who Baker told Yahoo Sports Manny has been kind to.

With the Dodgers now on a five-game winning streak and 27 games over .500, even with the drama surrounding the 50-game suspension, it’s hard to believe that at this point any Dodgers fan wouldn’t feel like Manny has been kind to them after this dramatic blast.

The only truly vocal anti-Manny group whose eyes were on the game (other than Reds fans) was heathcare giant Kaiser Permanente. Apparently Kaiser was scheduled to sponsor the 50,000 bobbleheads that were given away tonight at Dodger Stadium, but they pulled their funding once Ramirez was found in violation of MLB’s drug policy.

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For more details and conversation about the game, the granny, and all things Dodgers, head over to Dodger Thoughts which should be buzzing all night tonight. Meanwhile here are some more photos from the dramatic dinger:

Update: A fan very close to Mannywood took this uncut video of the at bat:


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Tony PierceBobblehead photo by Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times; game photos by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US Presswire
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