01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- Manny Ramirez may take curious routes around the bases every now and then, and his batting average this year has been mediocre compared to his previous seasons.

But there's still lightning in his bat. And while his batting average still is an un-Manny-like .269, the Red Sox' left fielder has been clouting home runs with more customary frequency lately.

Last night, Ramirez crushed a first-pitch, two-run blast high into the left-field bleachers in the ninth inning. It was his 16th homer of the year, boosting his Boston total to 170, tying him with Jackie Jensen for 10th place on the Red Sox' all-time list in only his 634th game for the organization.

It was the slugger's second homer in as many nights at Jacobs Field, his former home park. And in his last seven full games -- not counting the game on June 18 when he left early after getting hit by a pitch -- Ramirez has bashed five home runs.

Ramirez, who has six RBI in the two games against the Indians, now has 57 RBI for the season, only four behind teammate David Ortiz, who has 62, one behind league leader Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees.

Over his last eight games, Ramirez has batted .419 (13-for-31), with two doubles, five homers and 13 RBI, raising his average from .248 to .269, which is the highest it has been since he was hitting .275 on May 2.

Damon to get a rest

Terry Francona didn't expect Johnny Damon to like it.

But the Red Sox manager said he was going to "force Damon not to play" tonight in the final game of the series against the Indians.

Francona was reasoning that tonight's rest, plus tomorrow's day off for the entire team before a series opens in Philadelphia Friday night, would give his banged-up center fielder an opportunity to give his ailing right shoulder (strained rotator cuff) a greatly needed break.

Damon has been struggling with the sore shoulder since making a diving catch June 4, robbing the Angels' Orlando Cabrera of a hit.

Francona has called Damon one of the toughest players he has ever seen, marveling not only in his ability to play through pain and injuries, but to excel while doing so.

Damon extended his hitting streak to 10 games on an RBI double in the sixth. He had entered the game batting .339, second-best in the league to Baltimore's Brian Roberts (.355).

It could happen to anyone

Francona expressed sympathy for Cincinnati Reds manager Dave Miley, who was fired yesterday. Francona had managed against Miley in Double A, as well as in the big leagues only last week in Boston.

At the same time, Francona was happy that Jerry Narron had been promoted from bench coach to interim manager of the Reds. Francona served as Narron's bench coach in Texas in 2002 when Narron was managing the Rangers.

Francona said he heard that former Boston manager Grady Little, now in the Cubs' organization, might wind with Narron in Cincinnati. Narron was Little's bench coach with the Sox in 2003.

Schilling pain free

The day-after resulted in no setbacks for Curt Schilling, so the right-hander is on schedule to throw another batting-practice session Friday in Philadelphia. If that goes well, Schilling (right ankle), who passed a BP test here on Monday, is likely to make his first rehab start next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Out in left field

Ramirez's baserunning gaffe in the ninth inning of Monday night's win still had Francona shaking his head yesterday. Ramirez lined a two-out hit to left-center, turned first base and kept on going toward second, where he was out by so much he just kept jogging past the base, heading to his position in left, after being tagged out.

"He makes you laugh even if you don't want to," said Francona. "The whole dugout, it was like no one knew what to say. I looked at (Kevin) Millar and said, 'What did I miss?' Manny has an idea (when he hits). I understand when he leaves the batter's box that idea can stray."

Around the bases

Shortstop Edgar Renteria has been bothered by a sore left wrist for about a week but has stayed in the lineup. He stole his fourth base of the year, in the second, easing into second standing up. . . . Aaron Boone was scratched from the Indians' starting lineup because of strep throat. He was replaced at third base by Casey Blake. . . . Jason Varitek's sixth-inning double accounted for the 800th hit of his career. . . . Millar, who went 1-for-4, is only 3-for-18 over his last five starts, dropping his average from .278 to .269. . . . The Sox set a major league record for most games into a season (70) without having played an extra-inning contest.