SEATTLE — Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez was out of the lineup against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night because of a sprained left wrist and is expected to miss at least a few days.
Ramirez, according to manager John Farrell, slipped on some stairs immediately after Tuesday’s game. Tests were negative and Ramirez is not expected to be placed on the disabled list.
“Structurally, he’s sound,’’ Farrell said. “He’s got some soreness in there. He’s day-to-day. We expect it to be a couple of days at least . . . He’s not a DL candidate at this point. We’re going to give it every opportunity for him to get back in the lineup.’’
Ramirez had an X-ray after the game on Tuesday, then an MRI on Wednesday. The team’s hand specialist in Boston, Dr. Matthew Leibman, reviewed the tests.
Ramirez had not been made available to reporters since the incident. Farrell said Ramirez slipped on a small flight of stairs leading from the dugout following a 5-4 loss against Seattle.
“He went down in here pretty hard [Tuesday] night,’’ Farrell said. “He broke his fall with reaching back. We wanted to be sure that we did a full exam that included all that imaging . . . Unfortunate thing here is he lost his footing and this is where we are today.’’
Ramirez played only 105 games in 2015 because of various injuries and ended the season on the disabled list because of inflammation in his right shoulder. He has been durable this season, missing only occasional games because of minor injuries.
Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a double and a home run in the game. He is hitting .278 with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs in what has amounted to a comeback season.
Ortiz at first?With Ramirez injured, Farrell opened the door to the idea of David Ortiz playing first base during the series at Dodger Stadium that starts on Friday.
“That’s something I’ve got to talk further with David,’’ Farrell said. “I’ve yet to have that [conversation].’’
Earlier in the week, Farrell said he definitively would not use Ortiz in the field, citing the 40-year-old’s sore Achilles’ tendons and other lower-body ailments. Including spring training, Ortiz has not played first base since last Aug. 30.
Ortiz is a competent first baseman but the concern is increasing his exposure to injury. In recent weeks, Ortiz has been particularly cautious running the bases and the Red Sox have had an extra therapist on road trips to attend to his daily treatments.
“That will all be factored in,’’ Farrell said. “Any feedback will be factored in. I’m not closing the door on it. I just want to explore it with David and see where he’s at.’’
The Red Sox have Travis Shaw available to play first base and Brock Holt has 16 games of experience at the position, although none this season. Aaron Hill has no professional experience at first base but Farrell mentioned him as a candidate.
“We’re more than covered defensively,’’ Farrell said.
Shaw started at first base on Wednesday with Hill at third.
Papi’s prizes
The Mariners, Ortiz’s first professional organization, honored him before the game with a selection of well-considered gifts for his impending retirement.
Hitting coach Edgar Martinez, himself a decorated designated hitter, presented Ortiz with a framed copy of his first professional contract signed when he was 16 years old, and a photo from 1996 when he played Single A ball in Wisconsin.
The Seattle players, represented by Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, and Felix Hernandez, presented Ortiz with a watch and a painting. The Mariners also arranged for 34 pounds of Northwest King Salmon to be delivered to Ortiz at a later date.
The Pomeranz puzzle
Drew Pomeranz has made three starts for the Red Sox since they traded for him on July 14. One was bad, one was good, and the other was a mixed bag.
Cumulatively, it has not been very good. Pomeranz has a 7.53 earned run average in three starts for the Sox and opponents have a .929 OPS against him. He also has pitched just 14⅓ innings in those three starts.
“It’s consistency,’’ said Pomeranz, who had a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts for the San Diego Padres. “I feel like I’ve made some good pitches the last two games. I’ll get there.’’
Pomeranz will be opposed on Thursday by rookie lefthander Ariel Miranda, a 27-year-old from Cuba who was signed by Baltimore in 2015 and traded to Seattle on Monday for Wade Miley.
Miranda made his major league debut at Safeco Field on July 3 and gave up four runs on three hits over two innings. He did strike out four.
Betts honored
Mookie Betts was selected as the American League player of the month for July.
Betts hits .368 with 10 doubles, a triple, five home runs, 15 RBIs, 15 runs, and five stolen bases in 23 games. He also had a 1.068 OPS.
The Red Sox have long known how special Betts is. Farrell is pleased others have taken notice.
“When you look at the performance that he put up offensively, it’s a little bit more obvious to all how he’s impacted the baseball, how he’s impacted individual games,’’ the manager said.
“When you look at the range on defense and what he’s been able to do from the runs-saved standpoint, just a complete all-around player. Well-deserved for the acknowledgment and honor he received.’’
Jackie Bradley Jr. was the player of the month for May.
Justin Verlander of the Tigers was the American League pitcher of the month. He was 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA in six starts. Rick Porcello of the Red Sox (5-0, 2.57 ERA in five starts) also received votes.
Dustin’s day offDustin Pedroia was out of the starting lineup to get some rest as Holt started at second base. The Sox are in the middle of a stretch of 43 games scheduled over 44 days . . . Through Tuesday, the Red Sox were 23-25 in games decided by one or two runs, 4-8 in the last 12 . . . Robinson Cano’s game-winning home run for Seattle on Tuesday was his 50th extra-base hit of the season. He is the fourth player in major league history with 50 or more extra-base hits in each of his first 12 seasons in the majors. Only Eddie Mathews (1952-63), Carlos Lee (1999-2011), and Albert Pujols (2001-12) also accomplished the feat.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.
