11:20 AM EDT on Thursday, August 4, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Left fielder Manny Ramirez and shortstop Edgar Renteria collided while chasing a fly ball to shallow left-center in the second inning, sending both players sprawling face-first into the turf, about 15 feet from each other.

Ramirez held onto the ball, which was hit by Ruben Gotay, for the final out of the inning.

It appeared as if Renteria, who was chasing the ball with his back to home plate, inadvertently whacked the right side of Ramirez's face with his right fist. After making contact, they spun away from each other, the collision looking like a two-car accident.

Trainer Chang-Ho Lee attended to Ramirez in shallow center, watched intently by, among others, manager Terry Francona. Trainer Jim Rowe, meanwhile, was attending to Renteria. Both players stayed face down for a short while.

Renteria got up first. Ramirez, meanwhile, had blood on the right side of his nose. A stretcher was wheeled onto the field and got as far as shallow center before it was waved back by the training staff.

Ramirez finally got to his feet, to the cheers of "Man-ny, Man-ny," and walked slowly toward the Red Sox' dugout, as did Renteria.

Ramirez came out of the game with what was later termed contusions to the right side of his chest and to the right side of his face. His status was listed as day to day. After the game, Francona said that Ramirez's right eye was bruised, as well, but after an examination at Mass General Hospital, "they think everything's fine," he said.

Gabe Kapler replaced Ramirez in left field. Renteria stayed in the game until the seventh, when Doug Mirabelli was sent up to bat for him. Renteria was suffering from sore ribs, but was expected to be able to play in today's series finale.

Only a half-inning earlier, Ramirez had joined some exclusive offensive company. He bashed his 30th homer in the first inning, a three-run shot that boosted his major-league-leading RBI total to 100.

That made Ramirez only the seventh player in big-league history to rack up eight consecutive 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons, joining Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Babe Ruth and Albert Belle. Alex Rodriguez has done it seven years in a row and is poised to join Ramirez in the club this season.

Ramirez has hit 30 homers and driven in at least 100 runs 10 times in the last 11 years, including all five years with the Sox. Boston's only players with five seasons of 30 homers have been Ted Williams (8) and Foxx (5), but only Foxx accomplished the feat five consecutive seasons.

Only Ted Williams (9), Jim Rice (8), Bobby Doerr (6) and Foxx (6) have had more 100-RBI seasons for the Sox.

Clement has no fear

Only six days after getting drilled on the right side of his head by a line drive while pitching against Tampa Bay, the Red Sox' Matt Clement was at Fenway Park on an off-day, throwing a little tennis-ball batting practice to his three-year-old son Mattix.

Suddenly, there was a strong sense of deja vu.

"The first pitch I threw to him he hit a line drive right past my head," said Clement. "I put a glove on after that."

Clement will start tonight against the Royals in his first outing since July 26, when Carl Crawford's sizzling third-inning liner lifted him off his feet and knocked him to the dirt at the base of the pitcher's mound at Tropicana Field.

He's not promising he won't flinch when a batter's swing path suggests a line drive back up the middle. But Clement says he won't be fearful when he steps on the mound. And he calls it "amazing" that the only outward sign of the scary moment is a scab on the top of his right ear.

Clement, who is 10-3 and the recipient of his first All-Star berth, said the extra three days off may even help his body down the stretch. Clement was appreciative of all cards, letters and prayers.

The reaction from his peers was comforting to him, as well.

"The cool part is that some players for the Twins and Royals (whom the Sox have played on this homestand), people I don't even know, came up to see how I was doing. I guess that's the fraternity of baseball," said Clement.

Olerud on DL

First baseman John Olerud was placed on the 15-day disabled list after last night's game because of a strained left hamstring.

Veteran first baseman Roberto Petagine, who has been crushing the ball consistently for the Pawtucket Red Sox this season, was called up to take his place.

Olerud suffered the injury during Sunday's game. He tried swinging in the batting cage yesterday, but told Francona he was bothered by the hamstring, so he was put on the DL.

The timing of the injury couldn't have been worse for Olerud. The veteran went 5 for 12 (.417) with two homers and eight RBI, including a grand slam, in three games over the weekend.

"It's very disappointing," said Olerud, who raised his average from .267 to .287. "I've got a nice stroke going and I feel good at the plate. I'm taking good swings. It's bad timing."

Petagine, though, finally has caught a break. He was batting .327 with 20 homers and 69 RBI in 74 games for the PawSox. Petagine, 34, was scratched from the PawSox' starting lineup in Syracuse last night.

"He's gone down there and done everything he's been asked to do. (Pawtucket manager) Ron Johnson's been raving about him for a long while," said Francona.

Foulke progressing

Closer Keith Foulke played some serious long-toss yesterday -- from the right-field foul line to close to the wall in left-center.

Foulke (left knee surgery) is scheduled to throw off the mound on Monday, with subsequent bullpen sessions next Wednesday and Friday, at which point he'll be evaluated. The right-hander would prefer not to have to go to the minors for a rehabilitation assignment, but manager Terry Francona seemed to indicate yesterday that he'd like have to do so a couple of times.