09:37 AM EDT on Thursday, July 28, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Manny Ramirez was not in the starting lineup yesterday, electing to stick with a pre-arranged day off rather than modify the plan to help out the shorthanded Sox.

And while the Sox slugger decided to sit this one out, his decision didn't seem to sit well with manager Terry Francona, especially with Boston having to play without right fielder Trot Nixon.

Nixon suffered a strained left oblique Tuesday night, forcing Boston to put him on the disabled list yesterday, replaced by pitcher Lenny DiNardo.

"I went to (Ramirez) after (Tuesday night's) game. We had obvious (lineup) issues, but he said he still needs it (the day off), so I gave it to him," said Francona prior to yesterday's game, uncharacteristically electing not to publicly protect one of his players.

Francona said Ramirez initially was going to have last Sunday off in Chicago.

"But that was not a good day (for the team to be without Ramirez), in my opinion, so we came up with (yesterday), which would give him back-to-back days off (because today is an off day)," said Francona.

The events of Tuesday's game prompted Francona to amend that plan, but Ramirez, who reportedly has asked to be traded, wasn't willing to do so.

"He looked like he was tired, out of energy," said Francona.

Ramirez had pulled himself out of a game against Tampa Bay at home on July 20 because of tight hamstrings. He went 5 for 23 (.217) on the trip, but with three homers, two of which were game-winners, and six RBI, boosting his major-league-leading total to 92.

Ready and willing

Curt Schilling walked into Francona's office about 3 1/2 hours before yesterday's game and told his manager that he had an inning in him for the day despite having pitching in two straight games and three of the last four.

Francona, though, told the media he didn't want to use the right-hander.

But with the game on the line, Schilling was up in the bullpen and was called on with two on and two out in the ninth. Schilling walked the first batter he faced, filling the bases, but got the last out on a broken-bat groundout for the save, his third in four chances since being coronated the team's closer.

"I came up to the clubhouse to see (Matt) Clement, and Schilling was in the hallway throwing," said Francona, explaining his decision to call on Schilling, which was made after his pregame meeting with the media and after conferring with pitching coach Dave Wallace.

"When a guy prepares like that and he's okay, I'm not going to not pitch him because I'm stubborn," said Francona.

Schilling, meanwhile, wasn't about to decline the chance to pitch.

"If (I'm) in the bullpen and not hurt, I can't see myself not being available when I'm down there. You can still get people out when you don't feel great," said Schilling.

Francona wanted to stay away from using Mike Timlin, whose 49 appearances are the second-most in the league. He was successful in that mission, meaning the right-hander will have had three days off before the Sox play again, hosting Minnesota tomorrow night.

Wakefield moves up

Tim Wakefield's 123rd victory for Boston moved the knuckleballer past Luis Tiant and into a tie with Mel Parnell for third place on the Sox' all-time list. He trails only Cy Young and Roger Clemens, who won 192 apiece.

"That means a lot, having my name mentioned with Parnell and Tiant, behind Cy Young and Clemens," said Wakefield, in his 11th season with the Sox. "I feel very fortunate to have stayed around and accomplished what I have."

Mirabelli rarities

Two things you probably didn't think you'd see from catcher Doug Mirabelli -- and in the same inning, no less -- occurred yesterday.

Mirabelli, one of the game's slowest runners, had an infield single and a stolen base -- standing up -- in the fifth inning. He beat out an infield roller to the shortstop hole, his first infield hit of the season.

And, with first baseman Travis Lee playing behind him, Mirabelli took off -- prematurely -- for second base with Johnny Damon batting and two outs. Mirabelli took off before pitcher Seth McClung began his delivery.

McClung held the ball in the stretch position for several seconds, oblivious to Mirabelli's dash, so by the time he threw the pitch, Tampa Bay catcher Toby Hall had no chance to throw him out. He didn't even try.

It was Mirabelli's first stolen base of the year and the second of his 425-game big-league career. His other stolen base came on May 16, 2000, for the San Francisco Giants. He maintained his spotless stolen-base percentage, 2 for 2.

Unforgettable debut

Manny Delcarmen, of Hyde Park, Mass., won't forget his first big-league outing.

The right-hander was called up Tuesday, appeared in his first game that night, fanned the first batter he faced and worked a three-up, three-down inning, surviving a glancing blow off his right hip on a grounder up the middle in the process.

"I was nervous just sitting in the bullpen knowing I might get into the game," said Delcarmen, 23.

"Schilling told me to (take deep breaths) and I'd be fine. I thought I controlled myself on the mound pretty well. That first strikeout was awesome. I was thinking, 'Strikeout of the first hitter I faced.' That was running through my mind, but then I had to try to stay focused. But seeing (Matt) Clement get hit, that was tough to see my first day up here. That's the scariest thing in baseball -- to see a comebacker at 120 mph and you can't react," said Delcarmen.

Around the bases

Damon now has had either a base hit or scored a run in 40 consecutive games. He had one of each yesterday, the 26th time in this stretch that he has had at least one hit and a run scored in a game . . . It's official -- David Ortiz is in a slump. The Sox' designated hitter went 0 for 3 with a walk. He whiffed once, fouled out to the catcher and popped to short. In 14 games since the All-Star break, Ortiz is batting .182 (10 for 55), dropping his average from .314 to .295 . . . Wakefield is 6-0 with three saves and a 1.79 earned-run average in 15 games at Tropicana Field . . . The Sox are 14-7 in their last 21 road games.