Manny Ramirez took batting practice two hours before first pitch, showing the power that vaulted him to 555 home runs, while also resembling a 40-year-old with a nagging injury. He then took his bat to left field, leaning on it like a cane as his teammates shagged balls.

When Ramirez headed toward the clubhouse, he didn’t feel like speaking with the media. “No thanks,” he said. When Ramirez walked out of the clubhouse, he darted past a dozen autograph seekers, then slipped straight into the dugout without performing any stretches.

Whether you love Ramirez or you hate him, that’s just Manny being Manny. And he had no impact on Thursday’s game, out with soreness in his left hamstring, as his Sacramento River Cats trailed the Sky Sox 2-1 when heavy rain halted play at Security Service Field.

Home-plate umpire Kellen Levy called the game with Sacramento (38-22) batting against Tyler Chatwood (0-2) in the fourth inning after Brandon Wood blasted a two-run homer off Brad Peacock (6-3) to give the Sky Sox (28-31) the lead in the second. The teams will resume action at 5:05 p.m. Friday, with Tyler Johnson pitching for the Sky Sox, who plan to start Drew Pomeranz against A.J. Griffin in a second game that will last seven innings.

A 12-time All-Star with 19 seasons of experience in the majors, Ramirez has sat the past four games, putting a damper on his hopes of making his Athletics debut. It’s possible he will return to the Sacramento lineup for Friday’s second game, A’s manager Bob Melvin told Oakland reporters. The Sky Sox still have tickets remaining for a fireworks night.

Ramirez isn’t difficult to miss, now wearing No. 11 with his iconic dreadlocks running to the middle of his back. He retired last season five games into a forgettable stint with the Rays, slapped with a 100-game suspension for his second positive drug test, and after his ban was reduced to 50 games, the A’s signed him to a one-year, minor-league deal that’s worth about $500,000 if he breaks into the bigs. Of course, the A’s might cut Ramirez.

In 11 games, Ramirez is batting .243 with four RBIs, and he has no extra-base hits and 10 strikeouts. He needs more seasoning to handle major-league pitching, and he must get his timing down and become readjusted to the speed of the game. He has been eligible to join the offensive-challenged A’s since May 30, and if he does, he’ll probably be a designated hitter in the middle of the order – the A’s play at National League teams through June 14.

SKY SOX REPORT

Streaks on the line: Hernan Iribarren extended his hitting streak to seven games, and he has reached base in 27 of his past 30 games. Chad Tracy is also riding a seven-game streak, Andrew Brown has a six-game streak and Dallas Tarleton has a five-game streak.

Short hops: Matt McBride remains sidelined because of an injured left wrist. … Tommy Field is batting .380 with seven RBIs and 11 runs from the leadoff position. … Andrew Brown leads the Sky Sox in every extra-base hit category with seven home runs, three triples and 17 doubles. … A Bruce Willis impersonator threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazettedev.gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazetteskysox. Google+: Brian Gomez. For the Sky Sox homepage, visit http://www.gazettedev.gazette.com/sections/roxsox. For the Sky Sox blog, visit http://skysox.freedomblogging.com.