10:00 AM EDT on Monday, June 27, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA -- If Manny Ramirez doesn't win the Player of the Week Award for what he has done this past week, there should be an investigation.

AP photo

Boston's Manny Ramirez blasts a grand slam, his career 19th, in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday.

The Red Sox left fielder added to his award-caliber credentials yesterday by lofting a grand slam and delivering another run with a sacrifice fly.

For the Monday-through-Sunday time frame used for choosing a winner, Ramirez went 11 for 27 (.407) with five homers and 15 RBI.

Yesterday's homer was his eighth in his last 12 games, and fifth in his last 6. It also was the 19th grand slam of his career, tying him with Hall of Famer Eddie Murray for second place on the all-time list, trailing only Lou Gehrig (23).

Ramirez, though, contributed more than just offensively to the Sox' 12-8 win yesterday.

In the top of the first, Ramirez hustled down the first-base line after chopping a potential inning-ending double play to first baseman Jim Thome, barely beating a low relay throw from shortstop Jimmy Rollins to pitcher Brett Myers, covering the bag. The fact that he was running hard made Rollins hurry his throw. That kept the inning alive, leading to an RBI single by Trot Nixon. In the bottom of the first, Ramirez hustled to his left to field a lopping single by Bobby Abreu, and his quick accurate throw to third baseman Bill Mueller nailed Jason Michaels, trying to advance from first, on a bang-bang play, defusing a budding Philadelphia rally.

It was Ramirez's 10th assist, tops among big-league outfielders.

Heat, foot woes get to Wells

David Wells was bothered by the heat, humidity and plantar fascitis. And he also had some harsh words to say about plate umpire Gary Darling and the Citizens Bank ballpark.

Wells made it through only five innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits. He reached base twice, once on a single, and running the bases hurt his right foot, as did a play when he had to cover first base on a grounder to the right side.

"I irritated it a little. It hurt. Thank God I had it taped. But it was not a factor in my pitching at all," said Wells, who left with an 8-5 lead but was forced to settle for a no-decision.

He was more steamed by a pitch Darling called a ball to Pat Burrell with two outs in the fifth. Wells thought it should have been strike three. Burrell hit Wells's next pitch for a two-run homer that made it an 8-5 game, with Wells barking at Darling as Burrell trotted around the bases.

"That ball was right down the middle. How do you miss it? It was a no-brainer. That was the worst performance I've seen back there in my career. The bottom line is he had a bad day. He's entitled. I don't hold a grudge. I'm not finger-pointing but today that's what made a difference in the game."

Wells acknowledged Darling didn't miss just his pitches. With Wells at the plate in the top of the fifth, Ryan Madson appeared to have thrown strike three on a 2-and-2 pitch to Wells, but Darling called it a ball, ultimately leading to the ejection of Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "That (pitch) was right there," said Wells with a smile.

He was not smiling when he talked about the homer-haven known as Citizens Bank Park.

"It's a joke," said Wells. "This park plays like the Little League World Series the ball carries so bad."

Mueller better at the bat

Very quietly, which is exactly how he likes it, Mueller has been raising his batting average.

Mueller, the switch hitter who won the American League batting crown in 2003, went 2 for 5 yesterday, boosting his modest hitting streak to seven games. Mueller went 9 for 25 (.360) on the trip, raising his average, from .287, to .295, the highest it has been since May 25, when he was at .296.

And to think that manager Terry Francona had wanted to give Mueller yesterday off. Mueller talked him out of the plan, Francona said.

Schilling readies for PawSox

Curt Schilling threw a bullpen session yesterday in preparation for his rehabilitation start Wednesday night for the Pawtucket Red Sox in Charlotte.

Francona said he wasn't sure which Boston staff personnel, if any, would accompany Schilling for his outing.

Assistant trainer Chris Correnti would be considered because Schilling needs about an hour and a half of physical therapy to get ready and then postgame treatment, Francona said. But Francona also said it would be difficult to let Correnti go because Boston has a game that night, and he's needed for the Red Sox pitchers.

Options for personnel to monitor Schilling in Charlotte were "being tossed around," Francona said.

Day off for Renteria

Edgar Renteria was given a day off from the starting lineup, though he pinch hit (strikeout) in the ninth and played the final inning in the field.

The Sox' shortstop has been bothered by a sore left wrist for a while, and though Francona said the wrist had been getting better, he wanted to give him a day off anyway. Francona had planned to have Renteria off Saturday off, but Renteria wanted to play that game and sit out yesterday, which was fine with his manager.

Renteria, who notched his 1,500th career hit Saturday, went 8 for 25 (.320) on the trip, with three doubles, one homer and three RBI. He scored six runs, at least one in each game.

Bellhorn to 2nd in order

Mark Bellhorn was promoted from the No.-9 spot in the order to second, where he hit most of last year, to take Renteria's slot.

Bellhorn, who infuriates fans with his passive, take-a-lot-of-pitches approach, didn't swing at the first seven pitches he was thrown. He walked in the first inning. After getting ahead at 2 and 0, Bellhorn began swinging. He missed with his first swing. He fouled the next pitch off.

And after the count ran full, Bellhorn launched a fastball into the second deck of seats in right field for his fifth homer of the year. He later added an RBI single to right and a tie-breaking double to center. The double was his 18th of the year and the 100th of his career. Bellhorn tied a career high by scoring four runs.

In his next at-bat, Bellhorn ripped a first-pitch RBI single to right.

Of Bellhorn's 52 hits this year, 22 (17 doubles, 5 homers) have been for extra bases.

Varitek comes around

Until yesterday, the Sox had been enjoying a great road trip despite getting very little offensive support from Jason Varitek. The Red Sox' captain was 3 for 16 with 6 strikeouts. But yesterday, after whiffing in his first two at-bats, Varitek fell a triple shy of the cycle, capping his day and sealing the win with a two-run homer . . . Ramon Vazquez made his first start since June 4, replacing Renteria at shortstop. He went 0 for 3 and committed an error that paved the way for the Phils' game-tying rally in the seventh . . . David Wells, a career .115 hitter heading into this season, reached out and lined a single to center in the fourth, his first hit in six trips to the plate for the Sox . . . Boston has three pitchers (Wells, Tim Wakefield and Wade Miller) with at least one hit since the beginning of interleague play in 1997 . . . Johnny Damon (13 games) and David Ortiz