MINNEAPOLIS –– Manny Ramirez was held out of the starting lineup last night because of a tight right hamstring. He was called on to pinch-hit in the ninth inning but grounded out for the final out of the game.

The Sox’ left fielder felt the hamstring tighten up on him when he hustled down the first-base line in the ninth inning Saturday night and beat the back end of a potential inning-ending double play, keeping alive a Red Sox rally.

Manager Terry Francona said that in watching the play develop he thought he saw Ramirez tighten up a little as he got to the bag and past it. But it wasn’t until Ramirez called him early yesterday morning that he knew Ramirez wouldn’t be able to start.

So Jacoby Ellsbury moved to left field in an outfield that also included Coco Crisp in center and J.D. Drew in right.

Ramirez received treatment on his leg. It was assumed the injury isn’t serious.

After a torrid start to the season, Ramirez has been in a bit of a slump.

Over his last 13 games Ramirez was batting a mere .176 (9-for-51), dropping his overall average from what was then a league-leading .370 to .301. He has only one homer, one double and four RBI over that stretch. Saturday night he went 0-for-5, failing to get a ball out of the infield. He has fanned four times in his last two games.

Maybe the countdown to 500 is getting to him. Ramirez has 497 career homers. He clubbed his sixth homer of the year on April 19 for his 496th, but has hit only one more in his last 70 at-bats. Homer number 497 came in Detroit last Tuesday, a monstrous blast to dead center at cavernous Comerica Park on the first pitch of Freddy Dolsi’s big-league career.

Cora gets a start

Alex Cora (elbow) was activated from the disabled list and was in the starting lineup for last night’s game against the Twins.

Cora started at shortstop in place of Julio Lugo, who has a mild concussion, suffered in a baseline collision during Friday night’s game. To make room for Cora, the Sox optioned rookie infielder Jed Lowrie to Pawtucket.

First baseman Sean Casey (hip) also was eligible to be activated from the disabled list yesterday, but the Sox held off on that move.

The Sox have 13 pitches and are likely to option Craig Hansen back to Pawtucket to make room for Casey, but with Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon unavailable last night because of a heavy recent workload, Francona wanted to make sure he didn’t find himself a pitcher short.

Lugo, meanwhile, was feeling a bit better but still wasn’t ready to return to the lineup, Francona said.

Corey to Padres

The Sox traded reliever Bryan Corey to the pitching-starved San Diego Padres for a player to be named and cash considerations.

Corey had two stints with Boston, twice being designated for assignment and ultimately re-signed to a Pawtucket contract.

Corey was 0-0 with a 10.50 earned-run average in seven appearances totaling six innings for Boston.

The right-hander, who was with the PawSox when the trade was announced, worked a scoreless ninth inning in a Padres win yesterday.

Francona, who championed Corey when he had the opportunity, was happy to see he’s back in the big leagues.

“It was tough for him. He was the odd man out here. Now he’s in the big leagues. Good for him. You don’t want to lose pitching, but you want the best for guys like that. This is a good day for him,” said Francona.

skrasner@projo.com