Hammy keeps Manny out of BoSox-Angels opener
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez was not in the starting lineup Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels because of a cramp in his right hamstring.
Ramirez, who took himself out of Monday's 2-1 loss to the Yankees in the fifth inning, is hitting .330 with 34 homers and 100 RBI. Willy Mo Pena started in place of the 10-time All-Star, who leads the AL with a .446 on-base percentage and was retired only once in 23 plate appearances during the Yankees series.
Still smarting from their five-game sweep at the hands of their archrivals at Fenway Park during the weekend, the Red Sox placed shortstop Alex Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained oblique muscle in his right side. The move is retroactive to Aug. 19.
Middle infielder Dustin Pedroia made his big league debut at shortstop after his contract was purchased from Triple-A Pawtucket. He was in Ottawa with the Paw Sox when he got the word of his promotion and made a connecting flight from Chicago to Anaheim in time for the opener of a nine-game road trip.
Left-handed reliever Javier Lopez was optioned to Pawtucket, switching places with right-hander Jason Gabbard.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
