SEATTLE -- Manny Ramirez
, who has started each of the Red Sox' first 33 games this season, was forced from last night's game at Safeco Field when he fractured his left index finger in a collision at home plate in the second inning.
Ramirez was at first via a leadoff single when Shea Hillenbrand
doubled into the left-field corner. Third base coach Mike Cubbage
waved Ramirez all the way from first, but a relay throw from shortstop Carlos Guillen
beat Ramirez to the plate, and Mariners catcher Dan Wilson
expertly blocked the plate, waiting to apply the tag.
Ramirez, sensing only one way to score, came in head-first and attempted to tag the plate with his hand. But Wilson was unyielding, recording the out. Ramirez, who was in the starting lineup as the right fielder, played right in the bottom of the second, but left in favor of Trot Nixon
in the third.
"He's got a frature on his left index finger," manager Grady Little said. "He jammed it into (Dan) Wilson's shinguard. It was starting to swell so we took him out of there. It's hard to say (how long he'll be out.) We'll have to determine how bad the fracture is, but if he's out of the lineup one day we'll miss him."
Ramirez was being sent home this morning to consult with physician Bill Morgan, a hand specialist. Little didn't have a timeframe for when the Sox might expect to get Ramirez back. Boston will play with 24 players today.
The plan, a few hours before game time, anyway, was to give Nixon a night off against lefty John Halama
and shift Ramirez from left field to right field. Then, circumstances took over.
"I don't know how much we'll see of (this alignment against lefties)," said manager Grady Little
before the game, "but you're seeing it tonight. He has never seen (Halama) at all. This serves a dual purpose -- this guy deserves some time off, the way he plays. And we we've had a long trip. Plus, they've got a left-hander on the mound, so it's a good day to give him off."
Little said he doubted that the night off would be a blow to Nixon's confidence. The outfielder came into last night hitting just .143 (3-for-21) against lefties.
"It's just a little protection for him," Little said. "The kid is almost up to .300 now (.298), so he's been swinging the bat.
Gaudy numbers
Pedro Martinez
, who starts the road-trip finale tonight in a nationally televised game, has never lost to the Mariners. He sports an 8-0 career mark with a 0.89 ERA.
"Thank you for trying to jinx me," joked Martinez when informed of the lifetime numbers. "There's no explanation for that. That's what makes baseball great -- you can't predict what's going to happen. There are some teams you have a hard time with."
Tonight also marks the first time this season that Martinez will pitch with four days' rest. In each of his first seven starts, thanks to off-days and rainouts, Martinez was pitching with the benefit of an extra day between outings.
They're going strong
A lifetime ago, the then-California Angels selected a player in the ninth round of the 1982 draft. The general manager then was Mike Port
; the player was Mark McLemore
.
Twenty years later, their paths have crossed again. Port is the Red Sox' interim general manager while McLemore is a valuable member of the Mariners after stops in Anaheim, Houston, Baltimore and Texas.
McLemore had a two-run homer and two singles in the Mariners' 7-2 win over the Sox Friday night.
"Mark is one of those rare players in that he can play three positions in as many days, and play them well," Port said, "and having him in the lineup is like having another coach on the field."
Here and there
Former Seattle and Red Sox shortstop Spike Owen
was at the game and threw out the first pitch as part of the Mariners' ongoing 25th anniversary celebration. . . . Second baseman Rey Sanchez
took a 12-game hitting streak into last night. Sanchez is the third member of the Sox to have a streak of 12 games or more. Nomar Garciaparra
(15 games) and Johnny Damon
(18 games) were the others. . . . After a three-inning stint Friday in which he allowed just one run, reliever Rolando Arrojo
has given up just one run in his last three appearances, after giving up seven earned runs over his previous five outings. Arrojo's ERA has been lowered to 3.15.
