NEW YORK -- Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez grew up just a hit-and-run away from Yankee Stadium. The Bronx native loves playing against the Yankees, and his numbers prove that point.

Entering last night's game, Ramirez was hitting .473 with 14 homers and 38 RBI in 33 games against New York since the 2006 season. However, he entered last night's game hitless in his last 11 at-bats and was 5-for-34 in the last nine games.

"Right now the fastball is beating him a little bit," said manager Terry Francona. "Once that starts happening — and that happens to a lot of hitters — you start to cheat a little bit. … It happens. I've seen this place get him healthy before, and I hope that happens now. Being right smack in the middle of that order when he's doing some damage, everybody [in the order] is different."

Ramirez snapped his 0-for-12 slump with a single in the fifth inning.