WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) _ Manny Ramirez, whose contract situation could hang over the Indians all season, hit a two-run homer Thursday as Cleveland opened its spring exhibition season with a 7-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Wendell Magee homered and Tomas Perez drove in two runs for the Phillies, who also turned three double plays.

Phillies starter Chris Brock got the win, allowing two hits in two innings. Bartolo Colon took the loss, allowing one run and one hit in two innings.

Ramirez, who led the majors with 165 RBIs last season, hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning off Mark Brownson.

This is Ramirez's final year under contract with the Indians, who will play him $4.5 million in 2000. But Ramirez is about to become even richer.

His agent, Jeff Moorad, is expected to visit the Indians in the next week and reportedly is seeking a contract for Ramirez comparable to the $84 million, six-year deal he got from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Shawn Green.

Indians general manager John Hart has repeatedly insisted he can't match the numbers Moorad is seeking, and that he is willing to go the year knowing Ramirez could be gone next season.

The Indians played their first real game of the spring while their manager Charlie Manuel remained hospitalized at nearby Winter Haven following emergency colon surgery on Monday.

Team physician Dr. William Wilder said Manuel, who had eight inches of his colon removed, began taking liquids for the first time since surgery.

``He's better,'' Wilder said. ``This morning he said to me, 'Doc, I'm going home this afternoon.' And I said, 'No way.'''

Some of the Indians players who stopped by to see the rookie manager on Wednesday evening were turned away at the hospital. Doctors want Manuel to get his rest and the constant traffic is making it difficult for him to relax.

Manuel is expected to be hospitalized from 7-10 days and could be away from the team for another week after that. While Manuel's out, the Indians are being jointly managed by bench coach Grady Little, third-base coach Jim Riggelman and pitching coach Dick Pole.

The Indians are keeping Manuel up to date by videotaping games he can watch in his hospital room. They've also given him a laptop computer, which will allow him to listen to live broadcasts of the exhibition games.

Pitcher Dave Burba was one of the few players able to see Manuel.

``He was watching our intrasquad game when I got there,'' said Burba. ``He looked fine and he said he was feeling a little better. I brought him some flowers. I knew I couldn't bring him any chew or a six-pack.''

Notes: The Indians will celebrate their 100th anniversary on Friday. ... The teams will meet again in Clearwater on Friday. Chuck Finley will make his debut for the Indians against Andy Ashby, who was acquired in the offseason by the Phillies. ... Former Indians second baseman Carlos Baerga was in camp visiting with old teammates and seeing Cleveland's medical staff. Baerga, who had knee surgery this winter, nearly signed a contract with Tampa Bay last week but an MRI revealed more damage in his left knee.