01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, July 23, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

CHICAGO -- The night wasn't a total loss for one member of the Red Sox, at least.

Rookie outfielder Adam Stern, who entered the game in the eighth inning in center field, clouted the first home of his fledgling major-league career.

Stern turned on a 1-and-1 pitch from the White Sox' Dustin Hermanson and launched a two-run homer into the seats in right in the ninth.

"It's exciting, but it would have been more exciting if we had won," said Stern, a Rule 5 draftee who was given the baseball as a memento, retrieved by the Red Sox' bullpen corps.

"I'm not used to doing that. None of mine are no-doubters. I was sprinting around the bases like it was going to be a double. I almost passed Graff (Tony Graffanino, running from first). But I saw it go over," said Stern, who had a total of 12 home runs in his first four professional seasons, all spent in the minors, none above Double A.

His first hit, a single off the Yankees' Scott Proctor a week earlier, was more special he said. But he wasn't about to throw this one back.

Polished 0 and 2 hitter

As if anyone needed more evidence how mature and accomplished a hitter Johnny Damon has become, there was more on display during Thursday night's game.

In each of Damon's five at-bats, he was down in the count at 0 and 2. Yet he still worked counts well enough to get pitches he could handle and went 2 for 5 -- a long double to right-center and an infield single. He scored each time in Boston's 6-5 win.

Damon, who entered last night's game against Chicago second in the league in hitting at .339, says he doesn't alter his approach even when getting behind, 0 and 2.

"That comes with confidence and experience," said Damon. "I'm still looking for a pitch to hit. He (the pitcher) still has to make a (good) pitch. You just take the approach that you're not supposed to get a hit after 0-and-2, so don't worry about it. Don't change anything."

Last night, he drilled a homer inside the right field foul pole on an 0-2 pitch in the seventh.

Injury updates

Outfielder Gabe Kapler, who went 0 for 4 with a walk for Lowell Thursday night, worked out yesterday but did not play. He'll join the Pawtucket Red Sox tonight for their game against Ottawa. . . . Keith Foulke (left knee surgery) continues to work out at Fenway Park with trainer Scott Waugh, though there's no timetable for when he might start throwing again. . . . Reliever Matt Mantei underwent left ankle surgery to repair a torn ligament on Thursday, that was called "extensive" by Francona. Mantei hopes to be ready for spring training. . . . Francona hinted that even when second baseman Mark Bellhorn (sprained left thumb) is healthy, he's not a lock to be handed his starting job back. Francona intimated that he and general manager Theo Epstein had been talking about sitting Bellhorn around the time he suffered the injury last Sunday night.

Manny guns 'em down

Manny Ramirez boosted his major-league-leading assist total to 12, easily gunning down Paul Konerko, who tried to score from second on Joe Crede's two-out line-drive single to left in the fourth. Chicago's third-base coach, Joey Cora, waved home Konerko even though he was two steps from the third-base bag when Ramirez gloved the ball.

The 12 assists are the second-most in Ramirez's career. He had 19 for Cleveland in 1996.

Fisk catches for Mr. T

Batting practice pitcher Matt Noone, the coach at Babson College, had last night off after six straight days of heavy duty. Boston faced six consecutive left-handed starters before last night's game against right-hander Jon Garland, giving Noone, a left-hander, lengthier BP duties before each of those games. . . . Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk, whose career was split between the Red Sox and White Sox, was at U.S. Cellular Field to take part in a pregame ceremony promoting Hanes socks, as was Mr. T. of Hollywood and gold jewelry fame. Mr. T. threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and Fisk caught it.

Big Hurt on the shelf

Frank Thomas, the once-fearsome seemingly Hall-of-Fame-bound slugger whose career has been slowed because of injuries, was placed on the disabled list by the White Sox yesterday, retroactive to July 21, because of inflammation in his left foot. Chicago called up first baseman Ross Gload from Charlotte to take his place.

Thomas, who had off-season surgery on his left ankle, was batting only .219, but with 12 homers and 26 RBI in 34 games this season. For his career, Thomas, a two-time MVP, has batted .307 with 448 home runs and 1,465 RBI.

Around the bases

Tony Graffanino has hit safely in each of his three starts since joining the Red Sox. . . . Kevin Millar knocked in a run for the second straight night. He has had RBI in back-to-back games only five times this season, and has not had a three-game RBI streak. . . . The Red Sox became the first team in the majors this season to draw over two million fans on the road. The crowd of 37,511 brought Boston's season road attendance total to 2,023,541. . . . The White Sox' Scott Podsednik swiped his 50th base of the year, by far the most in the majors.