Ramirez cuts short Japan tour

TOKYO -- Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez cut short his tour of Japan today (Japan time), electing to fly back to the United States. Ramirez, who participated in a home run derby yesterday and played five innings last night, getting two hits, told team officials that his left hamstring was bothering him. Officials decided that if Ramirez was unavailable to play, it would be better for him to go home.

"I tried to play through it, but we decided the best thing to do was for me to go home and rest," Ramirez said in a statement to Major League Baseball. "I feel very bad that I will not be able to finish the trip. I have really enjoyed my time in Japan; the fans and all the people here have been great."

Ramirez had sat out Saturday's game but did not mention that his hamstring was bothering him prior to yesterday's home run derby. . . .
Curt Schilling will have surgery tomorrow on his injured right ankle. The Sox ace was examined by doctors yesterday. The exam had been pushed back twice the past two days because of scheduling conflicts. Schilling will need six weeks of rest and six weeks of rehabilitation, so any delays could cause him to miss the start of spring training. Material from Associated Press was used in this report.