Manny Ramirez out with sore leg

5/11/2008 6:13 PM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -Manny Ramirez's pursuit of his 500th home run will have to wait for at least another day.

Ramirez, who has 497 career homers, was given Sunday night off against the Minnesota Twins because of a sore right hamstring.

Manager Terry Francona said he saw Ramirez come up a little gimpy while running out a grounder in Saturday night's 5-2 victory over the Twins. Ramirez called Francona on Sunday morning and told him the leg was a little sore.

``When he reached for first last night, I thought I saw him (grab) behind his right hamstring, kind of lower,'' Francona said. ``It looked a little awkward. He called me this morning and said, 'You know what, it's kind of sore.'''

Jacoby Ellsbury took Ramirez's spot in left field. Francona praised Ramirez for alerting him early enough in the day to give the manager ample time to let Ellsbury know to be ready, but didn't seem too concerned with Ramirez's injury.

``He'll be OK,'' Francona said. ``He's a little sore.''

Ramirez went 0-for-5 on Saturday night and has just one homer in his last 18 games.

Shortstop Julio Lugo missed his second straight game while recovering from what the team called a mild concussion. Alex Cora was activated from the disabled list and got the start. The team sent Jed Lowrie down to Triple-A Pawtucket, one night after he went 3-for-4 with his first career home run.

Sean Casey rejoined the team after a stint on the disabled list with a strained right hip and will be activated on Monday, Francona said.