BOSTON -- Boston catcher Doug Mirabelli was upset with disparaging comments made about him a few days ago by San Diego general manager Kevin Towers.

Mirabelli had been traded in the offseason for second baseman Mark Loretta and shipped back to Boston for Josh Bard and Cla Meredith on May 1, his arrival including a trip by a private plane and a police escort to Fenway Park so he could catch knuckleballer Tim Wakefield that night.

Towers blasted Mirabelli for his attitude.

"I don't miss him. . . . These guys don't miss him," Towers told the San Diego Union.

Towers told of a time before an April game in which Mirabelli sought the GM's ear and asked out of the starting lineup that particular night when rumors were floating around that the Sox, mindful of how badly Bard was struggling in trying to catch Wakefield, were interested in reacquiring Mirabelli.

"I said, 'What?' He said, 'My boys, the (Red) Sox have been calling me. I got to tell you, it's all I watch on TV. All I think about is the Red Sox. Do me a favor and you guys a favor [and make a deal].' " Towers told the paper. "Then, in the worst way, I wanted to trade him to the Yankees. In the worst way."

Mirabelli shot back yesterday.

"To say the least, I was caught off guard (by Towers' comments)," said Mirabelli. "Considering how long I've been away (from San Diego), that's unfortunate.

"I don't apologize for wanting to come back to Boston. I do apologize for the fact that he has this strong opinion about Doug Mirabelli. If that's the impression I left with him, that's regrettable. I find it very bad business as a GM to come public with details of a private conversation that was held behind closed doors."

Mirabelli entered last night's game batting .184. Bard was batting .322 and Meredith's earned-run average was 0.82 for the Padres, who entered last night's action in second place in the National League West and tops in the wild-card standings.

DiNardo impressive

Lenny DiNardo, called in from the bullpen to clean up a mess left by Tim Wakefield in the fourth inning, turned in his best outing since being activated from the disabled list on Sept. 1.

The left-hander, who spent over three months on the DL because of neck problems, got an inning-ending double-play ball in the fourth, and blanked the Twins on four hits over 3 2/3 innings.

In three previous outings this month, DiNardo had been tagged for 10 earned runs in only 8 2/3 innings, including a start in Baltimore last Thursday.

Big Papi struggles

David Ortiz remained stuck on 49 homers, one shy of Jimmie Foxx's club record, set in 1938. The Sox designated hitter went 0-for-5, and it was one of his weakest 0-for-5s of the season. He sent a feebly hit roller to shortstop in the first inning, whiffed in the fourth and sixth innings, hit a first-pitch chopper to first base for a forceout with a runner on in the seventh and struck out again in the ninth, ending the game.

Varitek honored

Jason Varitek was honored for being the first member of the Red Sox to catch 1,000 games.

Varitek, the Sox' captain, reached the 1,000-game plateau on July 31, against Cleveland at Fenway Park, the same night he had to leave the game because of a left knee injury that required surgery a few days later.

Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk presented Varitek with a gold catcher's mitt trophy to commemorate the achievement in a brief pregame ceremony. Fisk had held the record for most games caught in a Red Sox uniform with 990 until Varitek was behind the plate for game No. 991 on July 18 against Kansas City.

Well-deserved call-up

The Red Sox reached down to the Eastern League champion Portland Sea Dogs for their latest pitcher, 28-year-old right-hander Devern Hansack, a native of Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua.

The Sox moved injured left-hander Abe Alvarez (broken ankle) to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Hansack, who had been signed as a free agent last December after having been out of professional ball in the United States for two years.

Hansack, who likely would have started for the Red Sox last Sunday in Yankee Stadium had the Sea Dogs not been extended to a fifth and deciding game of their championship series with Akron, may make his debut Saturday in a start in Toronto, said manager Terry Francona.

So instead of facing the Yankees, Hansack shut down Akron on three runs over eight innings as Portland claimed the title with an 8-5 win last Sunday.

But Hansack wasn't able to whoop it up long with his Portland teammates. Boston's vice president of player personnel Ben Cheringtonhad some words for Hansack, who had spent four seasons in the minor leagues with Houston before being cut loose after the 2003 season.

"He said 'Don't celebrate too much. I have to talk to you about some things. I thought I was going to get released," said Hansack, who was 8-7 with a team-best 3.26 earned-run average during the regular season and a 2-0 record and a 1.93 E.R.A. in two playoff games against Akron.

Eventually, Hansack got the news that he was going to the big leagues, which was huge news back in Nicaragua.

"For me it was a big surprise. To win a championship and get called up is amazing," said Hansack.

Around the bases

Curt Schilling, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 30 because of a strained right latissimus, will start tonight against the Twins. His pitch count likely will be around 80. . . . Manny Ramirez (patella tendinitis) was to be examined last night to see if his season is officially over.

Jonathan Papelbon (right shoulder) was expected to do some light throwing yesterday. The goal with Papelbon, said Francona, was to get him ready to pitch in a game even though he won't actually pitch in another one this season. The Sox want Papelbon to enter the offseason knowing he's healthy enough to pitch.

Kason Gabbard (left latissimus) had tests that showed he has no structural damage, but Francona wasn't sure when he'd be able to pitch again. . . . Kevin Youkilis left the game after three innings because of a strained neck. Youkilis, who started in left field, was replaced by rookie David Murphy. . . . Right-hander Matt Clement threw off a mound, with the catcher in front of the plate and reported no problems.

The Twins' Justin Morneau, making a strong push for the MVP award, established a career-high for hits with a 5-for-5 night, raising his average to .326. He has 33 homers and knocked in his 124th run. . . . Boston center fielder Coco Crisp made a diving catch coming in and toward left-center in the eighth, robbing Nick Punto of a hit.

Mirabelli had a pair of hits, including an RBI double in the sixth, inching his batting average up to .192. . . . Eric Hinske had a pair of singles, one of which delivered a run in the sixth. . . . Alex Gonzalez notched his 46th RBI of the year on his seventh sacrifice fly, in the fifth. Gonzalez had 45 RBI last year for the Marlins.

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