Dodger shortstop Hanley Ramirez made his first rehab start with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Friday evening at historic Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield and appears to be no worse for wear after playing six innings.

Although Ramirez did very little offensively in his first rehab start on Friday evening, he made several fine defensive plays. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Ramirez, who injured his left hamstring on May 4 in San Francisco and was initially expected to be on the shelf for up to six weeks, returned to action with the Quakes after missing only 27 days.

“I’m tired but I feel good,” Ramirez told MLB.com’s Stephen Lynch after exiting the game. “There wasn’t any pain or nothing like that. I couldn’t get on base but let’s see tomorrow.”

Ramirez actually did get on base drawing a walk in the first inning but was left stranded there. He also made several fine defensive plays at shortstop including one from deep in the hole in which he had to make an awkward leaping throw but received help at the other end from 6′ 5″ first baseman Chris Jacobs.

Although it was initially reported that Ramirez would play only four innings and that this would be his only rehab assignment, Quakes manager Carlos Subero said Ramirez would most likely spend the entire weekend with the Quakes against the hot-hitting Bakersfield Blaze (Reds), who won the game by a lopsided score of 14-7.

“They want to take it day to day,” said Subero. “They’re not in any rush.”

Dodgers Vice President of Medical Services Stan Conte was also on hand to keep a close eye on Ramirez and it was he who allowed Ramirez to go longer than the initially planned four innings because Ramirez hadn’t really tested his hamstring all that much. He definitely did in the fifth inning, however, when he hit a high chopper to short and started towards first base at full speed but backed off to about 80% when he realized that there was no way that he was going to beat the throw.

Dodgers Vice President of Medical Services Stan Conte made the trip to Bakersfield to keep tabs on Ramirez. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Baring any setbacks, Ramirez will most likely rejoin the Dodgers on Monday when the team returns home from Colorado.

Ramirez’s return will force yet another roster move, which could be Luis Cruz or Ramon Hernandez, although with the possibility that catcher A.J. Ellis may land on the disabled list for a strained oblique, Hernandez may remain on the active roster. Both Cruz and Hernandez are out of options so the Dodgers would have to designate them for assignment, something that they have been reluctant to do thus far.