LAKE ELSINORE -- The Manny Ramirez traveling road show landed in Lake Elsinore on Saturday and the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger didn't disappoint his legion of fans, hitting a home run in his first at bat.

Ramirez, serving a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy, is on a minor league assignment with the Inland Empire 66ers.

When the San Bernardino-based team played the Lake Elsinore Storm at The Diamond on Saturday, one might have thought they stumbled into Dodger Stadium with the sea of blue hats and shirts, many bearing Ramirez's name and number 99.

And most were in a forgiving mood, cheering the all-star outfielder despite his punishment for failing a drug test.

Eddie Corona of Perris was decked out in a Dodgers jersey and fake dreadlocks, ala Ramirez, as he waited for the stadium gates to open at 5 p.m.

"He got his punishment and said he's sorry," Corona said. "Everyone deserves a second chance. I'm here to support him."

Pete Montenegro of Riverside said it's not fair to single out Ramirez in a sport that has been tainted by some of its greatest players using performance-enhancing drugs.

"Don't point a finger at one guy just because he's doing good," Montenegro said.

Jim Gardner of Lake Elsinore was at the game wearing a "Manny's back" T-shirt under a blue Dodger jersey he bought earlier in the day.

"I came to see Manny being Manny," he said, echoing a phrase used about Ramirez, who is known for having a quirky personality.

"He's an entertainer. It's not a train wreck, it's a fun ride," Gardner said.

Gardner said he wouldn't have a problem cheering for a player serving a drug-related suspension.

"I'm not celebrating that he broke the rules. Everyone should get a second chance," Gardner said.

Loma Linda resident Victor Wear said he had mixed emotions watching the game.

"It's not often we get to see a player of his caliber out here in the Inland Empire," he said. "It makes it difficult. We're Dodger fans first and he plays for the Dodgers. We're torn."

Wear was at the game with his sons, Justin, 11, and Jacob, 8, who both play baseball.

"The boys were very upset to find out about his drug use," Wear said. "You don't want to have children thinking that taking steroids is what you have to do to be a good player.

"It's a catch-22. You want the team to do well. On the other hand, you don't want to condone someone cheating."

Ramirez wasn't suspended for using anabolic steroids, but for failing a test for a female fertility drug, which is on baseball's banned substance list.

The drug, human chorionic gonadotropin, is often taken by steroid users to restart the production of testosterone.

Looking lost amid the sea of blue was a group of fans wearing San Diego Padres jerseys.

The Padres are the parent organization of the Storm.

Tyler Dato of Poway said he comes to one game a year in Lake Elsinore, and it was a coincidence that it fell on the day Ramirez played there.

"I just wish he would have fessed up instead of blaming his doctor," Dato said, adding that he and his friends were thinking of a chant to taunt the outfielder.

But nary a boo was heard when Ramirez took the field or had his name announced.

In fact, he received a loud, positive reception.

Storm general manager Chris Jones said things were running smoothly Saturday night.

He said hosting the California League-Carolina League All-Star game on Tuesday served as dry run for handling a large crowd.

Saturday's atmosphere seemed the same as any other Storm game, although three sheriff's deputies were on the field by the 66ers dugout before the game and there was a large media presence.

Jones looked at Saturday's game as a way to showcase the Storm and The Diamond to the 8,000 fans expected.

"Three thousand of these people have never been to a Storm game before," Jones said. "We can show them that they don't have to go to L.A. to see big league talent and fun."

The fans saw some of that fun right off the bat, as Ramirez, leading off the game for the 66ers, lined the second pitch he saw over the left-field fence for a home run.

Serving as the designated hitter, Ramirez later walked and singled before leaving the game.

Ramirez, who played two games in Albuquerque earlier in the week, will remain with Inland Empire, playing in San Bernardino through Monday.

He's eligible to rejoin the Dodgers on Friday when they play at San Diego.

Call staff writer Craig Shultz at 951-676-4315, ext. 2625.