Knee puts Ramírez on ice for the day

ATLANTA -- Terry Francona's phone rang yesterday morning at 8:15, the caller, one Manny Ramírez, explaining that his right knee was bothering him. So Francona sat Ramírez, opting for Kevin Youkilis in left field and Trot Nixon in the cleanup spot. Nixon, just before noon, saw Ramírez wearing a gigantic ice wrap and shouted across the clubhouse, not in anger but clearly willing to be heard, saying, ``Manny, take that eyewash off your knee."

Until Francona's phone rang, the skipper was intending to give David Ortiz a day off. Ortiz went into yesterday just 3 for his last 17 (.176) and 19 for his last 86 (.221). Of greater importance, though, was not having Ortiz play three consecutive games in the field in a National League park (which he now will do). But after speaking with Ramírez, Francona dialed up Ortiz, who went on to have himself a day: a walk, a double, a solo homer, and two runs.

Francona said when he called Ortiz, he told him, ``You're playing, because we can't have both of you out of the lineup."

Ramírez asked off amid a mini-slump. He's 0 for 14 in four games in Minnesota and Atlanta and hitless in 17 at-bats since the homer he hit a week ago against Texas. He was 0 for 5 Tuesday in a game started by Johan Santana and 0 for 5 Thursday, as well, concluding his day by fanning in the eighth and ninth innings against Joe Nathan.

Francona wasn't surprised that Ramírez called in the morning instead of saying something following Friday night's game.

``The pattern I see is it seems to be when he wakes up in the morning," Francona said. ``It's happened twice now."

How about tonight, against John Smoltz? Will Ortiz and Ramírez both play?

``David is going to play," Francona said. ``I think Manny's going to play."

Alex Gonzalez played his 48th consecutive clean game at shortstop, equaling Rico Petrocelli's club record for consecutive errorless games by a shortstop. Petrocelli's record covered parts of two seasons (1968-69). Gonzalez also collected three hits. Over his last 17 games, he's batting .344 (22 for 64), improving his season average to .249. What is he doing differently at the plate? ``Couple things," Francona said. ``He's staying through the ball better, using the whole field, not nursing it to right. The other thing is, [Alex ] Cora's played a couple games where guys have been tough on him. The day off, he hasn't sat and pouted. He goes down and works and comes back the next day." Could tonight be one of those nights when Cora steps in? ``Not sure," Francona said. The numbers suggest Gonzalez might sit. Gonzalez, lifetime vs. Smoltz, is 3 for 22 (.136) . . . Jon Lester's first major league win Friday night made him just the fourth rookie lefthander to win a start for the Sox in the last 25 years. He joined Kevin Morton (1991), Vaughn Eshelman (1995), and Casey Fossum (2002). At 22 years 160 days, Lester became the youngest Sox starter, lefthanded or righthanded, to win a game since Juan Pena (21 years 321 days) May 14, 1999 . . . Josh Beckett didn't have to deal with Chipper Jones yesterday. Jones sat out with a sore right thumb. Career against Beckett, Jones was just 4 for 23 (.174) with two homers.

Gabe Kapler entered yesterday's game as a defensive substitution in the seventh inning. He batted once, singling to right on an 0-and-2 count in the eighth. He also made a leaping catch. ``That's exactly what we need Kap to do," Francona said. ``Instant energy that's endless. Makes a great catch and chips in with a base hit. Always ready. That's beautiful." Kapler will have to be ready at a moment's notice over the next week because he's unlikely to get any starts. The Sox don't face a lefty in this three-game series in Atlanta and don't face any lefties in the coming week, when they host Washington and Philadelphia . . . Classic moment of the day: Ortiz wanted no part of Adam LaRoche's popup in the third inning. Jason Varitek wound up dropping it, after stepping on/over LaRoche's bat. The ball belonged to the first baseman. But he wasn't so interested. When Ortiz got back to the dugout, Francona jokingly said to him, ``How many balls did you see?" Ortiz's response: ``None, I was running the other way." Said Francona, ``He had no chance and he didn't want a chance. I said to [Mark ] Loretta, `Can you get that?' He said, `Yeah.' I said, `You'd better do that.' But, I tell you what, [Ortiz] played great." Francona meant it, referring in particular to a tough grounder Ortiz went to his right to field in the sixth.

Tonight's matchup between Curt Schilling (9-2, 3.59 ERA) and Smoltz (4-5, 3.78), both 39, features two pitchers who have combined for the following totals: 1,177 games, 6,026 innings, 382 wins, 266 losses, 5,561 K's, and a 3.34 ERA. They've faced each other twice, with each winning once, though the last time came when Schilling was still a Phillie. They also are two of the most verbose pitchers in baseball. Should be a night of high pitch counts and word counts. ``I wish it was Schilling and Smoltz's son," Francona said, his point being that Smoltz, even at an advanced age, is still to be feared. ``They'll both be revved up." . . . Francona said Keith Foulke, on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 12, will begin a throwing program tomorrow. A target date for his return has not been set . . . The Sox have yet to name a starter for tomorrow's game vs. Washington. It's expected to be former Royals righthander Kyle Snyder, whom the club acquired on waivers Friday . . . Lenny DiNardo, who if not for neck spasms would be in the rotation, is playing catch at a distance of 150 feet. ``He lost a lot of time doing nothing and losing strength in the meantime, so he's got some work to do," Francona said. ``It wasn't just downtime. He was getting so weak." DiNardo has been on the DL since May 22.