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.

Around the bases

Pink was the color of choice last night for Mother’s Day. Players used pink bats and wore pink wrist bands to promote awareness of breast cancer as part of MLB’s “Going to Bat for Cancer” promotion. Boston catcher Jason Varitek, who did not start last night, was given pink catcher’s equipment, which will be auctioned off by redsox.com for the benefit of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. … Of the Sox’ starters, only Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew did not use a pink bat.

Jacoby Ellsbury was struck by a pitch on the inside of his left knee as he squared to bunt for a hit leading off the third. He went down in the dirt and was checked out by Francona and trainer Paul Lessard. He stayed in the game. His speed was not affected — he scored on a close play on Mike Lowell’s sacrifice fly to right, barely beating a strong throw from Michael Cuddyer. … David Ortiz notched his seventh multi-hit game in his last 11 games. He has hit safely in 10 of his last 11. … Crisp’s triple was his first of the year.

skrasner@projo.com