ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Manny Ramirez was back in the starting lineup last night.

Ramirez had come out of Monday's game at home against the Yankees because of a cramp in his right hamstring, and he told manager Terry Francona he wasn't healthy enough to start Tuesday night's game against the Angels.

But Ramirez did pinch hit Tuesday night, and came within a few feet of tying the game, launching an 0-and-2 rocket from Angels hard-throwing closer Francisco Rodriguez to the warning track in center in the ninth inning of the Sox' 4-3 loss.

"He came off the bench with some vengeance," said Francona after the game.

Francona thought about using Ramirez as the designated hitter last night so as to reduce the strain on Ramirez's hamstring, but that would have necessitated putting David Ortiz at first base, which the manager, mindful of the Angels' aggressive baserunning style, didn't want to do. So Ramirez started in left field.

But Ramirez lasted only three innings in the field before being replaced in the lineup by Eric Hinske, who took over in right field, moving Wily Mo Pena from right to left to take over Ramirez's spot.

Ramirez had to chase a ball into the corner in the bottom of the third, a double by Orlando Cabrera, twisting to field the ball as it ricocheted off the wall. Two batters later he was unable to get to a ball lofted to left by Juan Rivera, the ball falling for a two-run single that cut the Angels' deficit to 5-3.

Before having to leave the game Ramirez was 0 for 2, a pair of groundouts on which he jogged to first.

He gets around

Rookie infielder Dustin Pedroia was in the starting lineup for the second straight day since joining the Red Sox, but at a different position.

Pedroia, who started at shortstop Tuesday night, replaced Mark Loretta at second base last night.

In his debut Tuesday night, the diminutive Pedroia stung the ball twice. In his first at-bat he was robbed of a two-run single on a leaping grab by shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who turned the bases-loaded, one-out smash into a rally-killing double play.

"I was nervous going up to hit. When I hit it I thought it was a single and two runs and we were ahead," said Pedroia last night. "When he caught it, I felt like my heart stopped. It happened so fast."

Pedroia, though, notched his first big-league hit in his next at-bat, a line single to center in the fourth.

"That was cool," said Pedroia.

In his other at-bat, Pedroia whiffed on a 2-and-2 pitch with two on and two out in the sixth.

Pedroia's debut came in front of his parents, his fiancée Kelli Hatley, and a couple of friends. He said he was expecting a larger contingent early next week for the three games in Oakland because he grew up in northern California, in the Sacramento area.

Injury update

Injured catcher Jason Varitek (left knee) had some knee-saver pads customized as he begins to do some defensive drills in his rehabilitation from knee surgery.

Varitek has begun doing defensive drills. The switch hitter also took 100 swings, 50 from each side, on Tuesday. He is expected to rejoin the Red Sox tomorrow when they play in Seattle.

In other injury news, Tim Wakefield's (rib) progress continues to be slow, and Trot Nixon (biceps) isn't able to swing a bat yet.

Never had a chance

Angels reliever Brendan Donnelly was not the least bit happy when manager Mike Scioscia lifted him with two out and none on in the seventh inning and his team ahead, 3-2.

Scioscia didn't want Donnelly facing David Ortiz, who was due up next.

As Donnelly walked off the field, he turned toward Ortiz, who was waiting in the on-deck circle as Scot Shields entered the game, and shrugged his shoulders, putting his arms out, palms up, as if to say, "I wanted to face you, but . . ."

Ortiz got a kick out of the gesture.

"We're friends," said Ortiz, who played with Donnelly in winter ball in the Dominican Republic in 1998.

"I was just joking around, saying, 'Hey, I've got to go. I'm shut down,' " said Donnelly.

DiNardo dealt setback

Lenny DiNardo's rehab outing in Portland (Double A) did not go very well.

The left-hander, who went on the DL on May 24 because of neck problems, was lit up for seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks in only two innings by Binghamton. DiNardo, who did fan a pair, was tagged for two home runs.

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