FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Manny Ramirez’s return to Boston’s lineup was worth the wait.

The slugger who showed up one day after the mandatory reporting date lined his first pitch of spring training for a single to right field then added a two-run single and a sacrifice fly that led the Red Sox to a 10-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

“The whole dugout just starts laughing,” after the first hit, said Boston starting pitcher Jon Papelbon. “The man knows how to hit. It’s amazing to see that kind of talent. I’m sure he’ll be able to save some for the season. The home runs will be for the season.”

Ramirez matched his career-high of 45 homers last season then asked to be traded. The Red Sox said they couldn’t find a deal that satisfied them. Ramirez reported March 1 with the team’s permission and said he gets paid to perform even if he doesn’t like where he’s playing.

He withdrew from the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic, which played its first game Tuesday, saying, “I’m not ready, so I’m not going to go out there and make a fool of myself.”

It turned out he was ready that day, and Boston manager Terry Francona was pleased with his exhibition debut.

“It was nice,” Francona said. “First pitch line drive. He ran the bases very well.”

He said Ramirez, the designated hitter Tuesday, wouldn’t make the long trips Wednesday and Thursday – to Jupiter to play Florida and to Vero Beach to play the Los Angeles Dodgers – but would stay behind to practice in the outfield and could play left field Friday at home against Philadelphia.

Another designated hitter, Kevin Millar, returned to action on a Red Sox field but he’s with Baltimore now after signing as a free agent following the last three seasons with Boston. He went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run-scoring double that gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

“It’s always nice when you get a chance to play against your old teammates for the first time. There are a lot of guys you haven’t seen since last season,” Millar said. “Now I’m a member of the Orioles, but it was great to see those guys, great to give them all hugs.”

He received a loud ovation when he came to the plate.

“The one thing I can always relate with the Red Sox fans is that I gave everything I had every night,” Millar said. “They appreciate the blue-collar-type guy that’s not as talented as everybody but gives his all. It was a nice welcome.”

Ramirez hit a two-run single in the four-run third when Boston took a 5-2 lead. Jay Gibbons hit his first exhibition homer, off Rudy Seanez, cutting the lead to 5-3 in the fourth, but the Red Sox won their second straight game after losing their first three.

They broke open a 6-6 game with three runs in the sixth. Cla Meredith (1-0) was the winner.

Alejandro Machado led off the inning with a double off Vic Darensbourg (0-1) and moved to third on a groundout. Ron Calloway pinch hit for Ramirez and walked. Rodney Nye and Luis Jimenez each singled in a run for an 8-6 lead. Jared Lowrie then reached first on an error by second baseman Eddie Rogers, scoring Nye.

Boston got another unearned run in the eighth when Napoleon Calzado’s error allowed Nye to score.

Notes:Boston CF and leadoff hitter Coco Crisp went 3-for-3 for the second time in spring training. He doubled and scored twice. … Gibbons went 2-for-2 with two runs and three RBIs. … Papelbon, who was hit on the left heel last Thursday by Shannon Stewart’s liner in a loss to the Twins, said, “There’s just a little bit of bruising. … I had no problems with it today.” … SS Brandon Fahey went 3-for-3 for Baltimore. … Brian Finch, Baltimore’s second pitcher after Hayden Penn started, allowed five runs on six hits in 1 1-3 innings.