Headfirst Slide Costly for Ramirez, Red Sox

Boston slugger Manny Ramirez is expected to be sidelined at least four to six weeks with a broken left index finger that could require surgery, Red Sox team doctor Bill Morgan said Sunday.

Ramirez, leading the majors in batting at .372, broke the finger Saturday night when he crashed into Seattle catcher Dan Wilson’s shin guard on a headfirst slide.

Ramirez traveled to Boston on Sunday and was examined by Morgan, a hand specialist.

“The bone is going to require at least four to six weeks to heal,” Morgan said. “My gut feeling right now is that it may require surgery.”

Ramirez will undergo further tests today to determine whether surgery is necessary.

The Red Sox, who have a major league-leading 25-9 record after defeating Seattle on Sunday, are expected to put Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list.

“We weren’t going to bring a player out here just for one day,” Manager Grady Little said. “We don’t play again until Tuesday so we can get it done before we get home.”

General Manager Mike Port said it was likely that the Red Sox would put Ramirez on the disabled list and add a player soon. “That would be my assumption, yes,” he said.

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Mark Quinn, who had been sidelined since late February because of a broken right rib, was activated by the Kansas City Royals.

“He’s going to play a lot,” interim Manager John Mizerock said. “He can hit. Everybody knows that.”

Quinn, who won batting titles in the Texas League and Pacific Coast League, has a .285 average with 43 home runs in 270 major league games.

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The Detroit Tigers recalled catcher Matt Walbeck from triple-A Toledo of the International League.

Walbeck replaced Brandon Inge, who separated his shoulder on a slide into second base during Saturday night’s game against the Texas Rangers and was put on the 15-day disabled list.

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The Minnesota Twins activated designated hitter David Ortiz from the disabled list after Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees and optioned catcher Matthew LeCroy to triple-A Edmonton of the PCL.

Ortiz, whose career has been slowed by injuries, has been out since April 19 because of a bone chip in his left knee that required arthroscopic surgery. He’s batting .236 with four homers and four runs batted in.

LeCroy, who has filled in as designated hitter during Ortiz’s absence and also played first base, batted .322 with two homers and eight RBIs.