BOSTON -- Curt Schilling made his first start since Aug. 30, when a strained right latissimus sent him to the sidelines.

It was clear from the outset, when it took him 28 pitches to get through the first inning, that the ace right-hander was rusty.

His command, normally his trademark, was notably lacking in and out of the strike zone, leading to an uncharacteristic seven three-ball counts to the 22 batters he faced, not to mention seven hits in his five-inning stint.

But Schilling was tough enough when he had to be in limiting Minnesota to only one run. When manager Terry Francona convinced him to call it a night after 104 pitches, the game was tied at 1-1. Schilling had ended his night with a flourish by whiffing Joe Mauer, the league's leading hitter, and Minnesota cleanup man Michael Cuddyer.

Schilling bent, but didn't break, stranding six Twins baserunners, three of them in scoring position. The Twins' only run off Schilling, who did not walk a batter and fanned three, came in the first, on a two-out double by Mauer and a single by Cuddyer.

Schilling was not involved in the decision in the Sox' 8-2 loss to the Twins last night at Fenway Park.

Craig Hansen, though, was involved in the decision, and that wasn't a good thing for Boston.

The rookie right-hander walked one, served up two doubles and was charged with four runs -- three of which came on a long homer over the Green Monster by Torii Hunter, turning a 2-1 lead into a 5-2 deficit in the eighth inning in an eventual defeat.

Hansen faced only those four batters in absorbing his second loss in four decisions. The setback eliminated the Red Sox from the American League East title chase, gift-wrapping a ninth straight division title for the Yankees.

Ortiz honored

David Ortiz was given the 2005 American League Latino MVP Award in a pregame ceremony.

This is the 17th year that Latino Sports, Latino Sports Writers and the Broadcaster Association have sponsored such an award. The Cardinals' Albert Pujols was the National League winner.

Another test for Manny

Manny Ramirez underwent an MRI yesterday on his right knee.

Ramirez has had his knee checked out before, and the conclusion of the medical staff was that the slugging left fielder was suffering from patella tendinitis. The best form of treatment for the problem is rest, and to that end, Ramirez has started only seven games since Aug. 21, and hasn't appeared in a game since he was scratched from the starting lineup on Sept. 9.

Francona said the latest MRI was taken to make sure there isn't a stress fracture in the area below the kneecap.

"We want to cover all the bases," said Francona. "We need to know. Regardless of what it ends up being (stress fracture or tendinitis), he'll be fine next year. He just needs rest."

Youkilis watches

Kevin Youkilis was held out of the starting lineup last night and likely won't play tonight, either, because of a stiff neck. Youkilis had to leave Tuesday night's game after three innings because of spasms in the neck. The problem doesn't appear serious, said Francona.

Practice makes perfect

Francona was lobbying rookie outfielder David Murphy to go to winter ball somewhere to hone his outfield and hitting skills.

He also said he was going to talk to left-handed reliever Javier Lopez about a winter-ball assignment. Lopez has been used this season as a lefty-lefty specialist, but Francona said it would help his career to go to winter ball and pitch as more than just a one- or two-batter late-inning specialist.

The Sox already have some minor-leaguers placed in winter ball, the most recognizable names being infielder Alejandro Machado (Venezuela) and pitcher Jermaine Van Buren (Mexico). More players could be going, but haven't yet committed.

Heading to the Arizona Fall League to play for Peoria will be catcher Dusty Brown, outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, right-handers Barry Hertzler, Kyle Jackson and David Pauley and third baseman Chad Spann. Former Soxer Luis Alicea, who managed at Class-A Greenville this year, will be managing the Peoria team.

One more for Nicaragua

Rookie right-hander Devern Hansack, called up from Double-A Portland on Tuesday, will become the ninth native of Nicaragua to play in the majors when he starts Saturday in Toronto against the Blue Jays.

The only other active Nicaraguan in the big leagues is Texas pitcher Vicente Padilla. The most famous of the Nicaraguans to have played in the majors is right-hander Dennis Martinez, whose sterling career with Baltimore and Montreal included a perfect game for the Expos in 1991.

Hansack will be the 28th pitcher used by the Sox this season, a club record. He's also the 53rd player on the Sox' roster this season, two short of the team's record of 55, established in 1996.

Around the bases

The triple by Jason Varitek in the second inning, on a ball off the wall in left-center that bounced over the head of center fielder Torii Hunter on the carom, was the Sox' captain's second three-bagger of the season, tying a career-high. He also had two triples in 1999. . . . Dustin Pedroia's two-out RBI single to center in the second stretched his hitting streak to five games, extending the rookie infielder's career high. . . . The Sox will face Cy Young and MVP candidate Johan Santana (18-5, 2.77 E.R.A.) tonight in the finale of the three-game homestand. Josh Beckett (15-10, 5.02) starts for Boston.

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