SAN DIEGO — Manny Ramirez is back in the big leagues, looking like a guy who missed 50 games.

Returning from his suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, the Los Angeles slugger offered an apology, then barely hit the ball out of the infield in the Dodgers' 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres last night.

He did provide a lot of energy to the team with baseball's best record.

"It was great," Ramirez said. "I was kind of nervous at first, but once I stepped to the plate I was fine."

With more than half the crowd at sold-out Petco Park wearing Dodger blue and cheering him on, Ramirez went 0 for 3 with a walk. The farthest he hit the ball was a popup that second baseman David Eckstein caught in shallow center field.

He showed a good eye during his first at-bat, fouling off three pitches before walking. Right-hander Chad Gaudin brushed back Ramirez with the first pitch. Ramirez just smiled.

It was a loud at-bat, with Dodgers fans standing and cheering, and Padres fans trying to drown them out with boos.

"I thought the first-inning walk was amazing, considering the 2-2 count and he worked the walk," manager Joe Torre said. "I'd be a little jumpy if I were him. There's no question he's rusty. The only way you can play this game is practice it, and he really hasn't had a lot of practice."

Ramirez popped up to end the sixth, jogged to the dugout to get his glove and cap, then headed for the clubhouse, his night finished.

He offered an apology before the game.

"Well, I want to say I'm sorry to the fans, to my teammates that they're always there for me," Ramirez said. "I want to thank Frank McCourt for his support," he added, referring to the Dodgers' owner.

Asked what he was sorry for, he said: "Not being there for them. For not playing the game, because I'm a huge part of the Dodgers and I'm proud to wear that uniform. When I say I'm sorry, I let those fans down, that they go out there to see me."

Ramirez's ban was based on evidence he used human chorionic gonadotropin, a fertility drug that's banned by baseball, a person familiar with the suspension told The Associated Press after the suspension was announced on May 7, speaking on condition of anonymity because those details were not released.

HCG is popular among steroid users because it can mitigate the side effects of ending a cycle of the drugs.

Rafael Furcal had a season-high four hits for the Dodgers and Russell Martin drove in two runs.

Hiroki Kuroda and four relievers combined to hold the Padres to four hits. Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th straight save and 20th in 22 chances.

Kuroda (3-4) allowed three runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Gaudin (4-7) allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings.