01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, April 15, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Manny hasn't been Manny yet this year.

No home runs. No extra-base hits even, for Manny Ramirez, one of the most prolific power hitters in the history of the game.

That's what the stat sheet showed before last night's game against the Mariners. There wasn't any change when the game ended. He went 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts and a walk. He's now hitting .200.

There haven't even been a whole lot of hard-hit balls off Ramirez's bat over the first nine games of the season, either. He had only seven hits in 32 at-bats before last night.

Concern may be creeping into the fans' minds, but manager Terry Francona doesn't share their concerns. Not even close.

Francona remembers what happened last year, when Ramirez also started slowly. Ramirez didn't hit his first homer until his 11th game of the year, and he hit two that game. Ramirez finished with another monster season, tying his career best with 45 homers and knocking in 144 runs.

This season, Ramirez has had trouble keeping his hands where he wants them, said Francona. His balance has been a problem, too.

"Sometimes coming out of the gate you don't have your rhythm. It happens," said Francona. "But I'm sure the other team still isn't happy to see him come up. It will be fun to watch him when he gets hot. Good players get to their level. When he gets back right, he has the ability to carry you for a while."

Stern expected to start today

The Red Sox, who have faced three straight left-handed starteers, will oppose a right-hander today, and Francona will make a few lineup switches.

Over the last three games, he has started right-handed-hitting outfielders in center (Dustan Mohr) and right (Wily Mo Pena).

Today, against Joel Pineiro, Adam Stern is expected to return to the lineup in center. But with Trot Nixon (groin) not ready to play, Francona said before last night's game that he was leaning toward starting Pena today.

Francona said the Mohr-Pena decision for today would not come from a "hit-off" last night.

Mohr certainly made a statement early last night, drilling a single his first time up and roping a double into the left-field corner his second time up. Mohr struck out in his other two at-bats.

Pena popped to third, took a called third strike with runners at second and third and none out in the fourth, whiffed in the sixth and threaded an opposite-field double inside the first-base bag in the eighth.

Youkilis robs Ibanez

First baseman Kevin Youkilis robbed Raul Ibanez of an extra-base hit with a diving stab to his left in the fourth. Youkilis had reached base five straight times over a two-game stretch before Jamie Moyer caught him looking at strike three in the sixth. . . . Mike Lowell has five doubles in his last four games. . . . David Ortiz's home-run streak was snapped at three games. Ortiz went 0 for 4.

Gabe Kapler (Achilles tendon) and Trot Nixon (groin) were in right field, doing agility drills with rehabilitation coordinator Scott Waugh. Nixon, who suffered his injury on Tuesday, could be ready off the bench in a couple of days, said Francona. . . . Ortiz was and a bunch of youngsters gathered in front of the Green Monster to film a commercial for the Boys & Girls Clubs, a corporate sponsor of Major League Baseball. . . . Three Red Sox wives, Kathryn Nixon (Dana-Farber), Shonda Schilling (SHADE Foundation) and Dawn Timlin (Angel Fund) will be running in the 110th Boston Marathon Monday, with pledges for their participation going to their respective charities.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340