Ramírez Misses Game With Sore Hamstring

Red Sox OF Manny Ramírez was originally given last night off against the Twins because of a sore right hamstring but was brought in as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of Boston's 9-8 loss to Minnesota.

Boston Manager Terry Francona said he saw Ramírez come up a little gimpy while running out a grounder in Saturday night's 5-2 victory over Minnesota. Ramírez called Francona yesterday morning and told him the leg was a little sore.

"When he reached for first last night, I thought I saw him grab behind his right hamstring, kind of lower," Francona said. "It looked a little awkward. He called me this morning and said, 'You know what, it's kind of sore.' "

Jacoby Ellsbury took Ramírez's spot in left field. Francona praised Ramírez for alerting him early enough in the day to give the manager ample time to let Ellsbury know to be ready but didn't seem too concerned with Ramírez's injury.

Ramírez entered the game with two outs in the top of the ninth in place of Kevin Cash, and grounded out to end the game.

"He'll be okay," Francona said before the game. "He's a little sore." . . .

SS Julio Lugo missed his second straight game while recovering from what the team called a mild concussion. Alex Cora was activated from the disabled list and got the start. The team sent IF Jed Lowrie to Class AAA Pawtucket, one night after he went 3 for 4 with his first career home run. 1B Sean Casey rejoined the team after a stint on the disabled list with a strained right hip and will be activated today, Francona said. . . .

The Red Sox were also involved in a trade, sending RHP Bryan Corey to the Padres for a player to be named or cash. Corey was outrighted to Pawtucket on April 30.

· RANGERS: RHP Kevin Millwood was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right groin yesterday before Texas's game against Oakland.

The Rangers called up RHP Doug Mathis from Class AAA Oklahoma to take Millwood's roster spot. Mathis is 5-0 with a 3.55 ERA in seven starts for Oklahoma, but he will pitch in relief for Texas.

Millwood left Saturday night's game against the Athletics in the first inning after throwing 12 pitches to three batters, recording two outs. Millwood was injured on his 11th pitch. After he threw one more, he put his hands on his knees in obvious discomfort before being removed from the game.

Millwood, the Rangers' No. 1 starter, is 2-3 with a 4.88 ERA in nine starts this season. Last season, he had two stints on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

· LET'S (NOT) PLAY TWO: Yesterday's Blue Jays-Indians game in Cleveland was postponed by rain and will be made up in a doubleheader today. Yesterday's scheduled starters, Toronto's A.J. Burnett and Cleveland's Fausto Carmona, are scheduled to pitch in the first game beginning at 4:05 p.m. The Indians' Cliff Lee, off to an impressive start this season, will face the Jays' Shaun Marcum in the nightcap. . . .

The finale of the weekend series between the Yankees and Tigers in Detroit was also postponed by rain. A makeup date wasn't immediately announced.

-- From News Services