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Manny Ramirez hit a game-tying two-run homer as part of a four-run eighth inning rally to help the Red Sox edge the Twins 6-5 on Tuesday night.

He's not worth the headache, but even more, the stomachache. The rationalizing. The chance he could sour what should be the pinnacle of every fan's existence.

BOSTON — Red Sox slugger David Ortiz reported no pain Tuesday, a day after he took his first on-field batting practice since injuring a tendon in his left wrist almost six weeks ago.

NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford Post 1 has two goals today: Forget last night, and start producing some offense.

NEWPORT, R.I. — Seventh-seeded Frank Dancevic spoiled Taylor Dent's return to the ATP Tour by rallying for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, victory in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Tuesday afternoon.

WILMINGTON — Patrice Bergeron and Manny Fernandez were back on the ice like rookies on Tuesday morning, hoping to get a head start on the NHL season after sitting out most of 2007-08 with injuries.

Brett Eibner hit a grand slam that fueled a six-run fifth inning, but Wareham left the bases loaded in the top of the ninth and fell short in a 9-8 Cape Cod Baseball League loss at Falmouth on Tuesday.

MADRID, Spain — In just seven days — from the soccer field to the lawn at Wimbledon — Spanish sports transformed itself into pure gold.

HARWICH — The Bourne Braves used a four-run fifth inning to pick up their second Cape Cod Baseball League victory at Harwich's Whitehouse Field in as many days with a 5-2 victory yesterday.

COTUIT — For a player who started this summer with a temporary contract, Nick Hernandez has made a permanent habit of baffling Cape Cod Baseball League hitters.

BOSTON — Manny Ramirez came through in the eighth.

WEST BARNSTABLE — The Gold team took an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute and never looked back, topping the Blue team 3-0 in the Cape Cod Women's Soccer League All-Star Game at Cape Cod Community College last night.

HYANNIS — Team Cape Cod finished its regular season with another win yesterday, beating Sandwich 6-1 at Barnstable High School.

Republican file photoPapa Lo became a Mullins Center fan favorite, thanks to his aggressive defense that led to 25 blocks in just 89 minutes of playing time.

The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team added 6'9" forward Tyrell Lynch, who attended the school last year, but did not play basketball. Originally recruited by Auburn University, he has 4 years of eligibility.

UMass also lost a forward when 6'9" Papa Lo, who played one season for the Minutemen, decided to transfer to Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Last season, Lo played sparingly as a UMass freshman.

Previously:
• UMass roster doesn't add up
• Power forward Lynch lands at UMass

By RUSS HELD
rheld@repub.com

Daril Pacinella of West Springfield is one of the most respected golf professionals in the region, but he is a father first.

The longtime club pro and now a teaching pro at Daril Pacinella Golf Academy in Southwick knows that a busy lesson schedule can do more than help him earn a living.

"Staying busy teaching keeps my mind off things, it really helps," Pacinella said.

Pacinella's son Matt is serving in Iraq, as an Air National Guard firefighter with the 104th Fighter Wing Fire Department at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield.

"He's somewhere in Baghdad, inside the green zone," Daril said.

"Watching him get on that plane (May 7), knowing he's going off to Iraq ... that was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Watching your kid leave, to go overseas, to help out in a war area ... Wow!"

Matt, 25, was a four-year varsity veteran on the golf team at Westfield High and an excellent baseball player.

"He has been playing better golf, he hits it by me 50 or 60 yards," Daril said. "He's a big strong kid and he has a good eye for teaching, too."

Matt was a police officer for a little more than two years in Florida, before he made a career change within the public safety industry.

"He became a firefighter, with all the certifications (including an EMT)," Daril said. "He signed up for the Guard, and he volunteered (for active duty overseas). He wanted to serve his country and do his part."

Matt works a 24-hour shift as a firefighter at Barnes. "He's specialized in hazardous type fires that might happen at a place like an airport," Daril said.

"It's hard every day, reading articles, watching TV about everything," Daril said. "He calls every Sunday and we e-mail regularly.

"He's a grown man, it was his decision and I support it fully. But he's still your kid, no matter how old he is."

Daril said he expects Matt to return stateside sometime this fall.

"I'll sleep better when he's back, that's for sure."

FUTURES IS NOW: Check out Juli (Wightman) Erekson of Chicopee this weekend at the Duramed Futures Tour stop at Bloomfield, Conn.

The first-year professional will tee it up at the CIGNA Golf Classic at Gillette Ridge GC. She'll be looking to make her first cut in her fourth pro start on the LPGA's developmental tour.

One of the best female golf talents to come from the region in years capped a terrific career at Brigham Young University this spring.

Wightman, 22 and a resident of Mapleton, Utah, tees off tomorrow at 8:10 at the 10th hole.
Taylor Leon of Texas is defending champion.

BIG ACE: Jason Grochowalski of South Hadley loves those short par 4s.

Grochowalski, 22, made his first hole-in-one last month, acing the 273-yard par-4 16th hole at Ledges GC in South Hadley.

"It was my first (ace) . . . the closest I had come to one was in Florida a couple of years ago, I came within an inch or two on a par 4," Grochowalski said.

The former quarterback at South Hadley High School and defensive end at University of Massachusetts, made his ace alongside brother Brian, 35, and Brian's son Matt.

"The best thing was looking at the numbers on the golf carts - one was No. 7, my number at South Hadley and the other was 58, my UMass number," Grochowalski said.

Matt Grochowalski, 8, also likes the hole as he chipped in for eagle from 80 yards out a week earlier.
Jason Grochowalski is a recent UMass grad and plans to start graduate school there this fall.
JAMROG WINNERS: Derek Hoy of Monson and Neil Daigneault of Ludlow teamed to win the Mark Jamrog Memorial Two-Ball at Chicopee CC last week. The pair won with par at the fourth extra hole against father-son combo Walt and Kyle Niejadlik of Oak Ridge GC.

LOCAL TOURNEYS: The Raimondi City Championship is Saturday and Sunday at Springfield's municipal courses, Veterans and Franconia. There are four divisions, including a senior division . . . Mill Valley Golf Links (323-4079) in Belchertown has openings for its annual clambake tournament Saturday . . . CC of Greenfield (773-7530) has its play-either-day Greenfield Open Saturday and Sunday and the Steve Kells Junior two-ball Wednesday . . . Southampton CC (527-9815) will hold its Southampton Open Two-Ball July 19 and/or 20 . . .Chicopee CC (594-9295) runs its Open Two-Ball Classic July 27 . . . Openings remain for the 17th Taconic Four-Ball Classic at Taconic GC (458-3997) Aug. 13.

By JEFF THOMAS
jthomas@repub.com

A two-hitter by Jeremy Tanguay and a lot of offensive help has pushed the Westfield 15-year-old All-Stars into the Babe Ruth state tournament.

Westfield pounded out 19 hits in a five-inning game as it defeated Franklin County 16-1 Tuesday night at Greenfield.

"We were looking forward to getting to the states," Westfield coach Sean Pierce said. "We won the states when we were 13s and twice made it to the New England Regional and that's what we're hoping to get back to."

Westfield is the District 2 champions and will head to Pittsfield for the eight-team double-elimination tournament that begins July 19.

Brandon Kubic was 4 for 5 with four RBIs for Westfield. Lucas Cimmino added three hits and Steve O'Brien had a solo home run.

AAU BASEBALL
Western Mass. 5, Tewksbury 4 (8): Two outs. Bottom of the seventh. Game-tying run at second base in the championship game.

It's the ideal scenario for any youth baseball player, and Brent Booth came through for the Western Mass. Sting against Tewksbury in the New England AAU under-14 final.

Booth, who was 0 for 3 at that point, singled to drive in Ethan Atkocaitis with to force extra innings. And Lee Albertson's single in the eight inning drove in Anthony Nomakeo with the winning run to end the three-hour game.

"I was just trying to get a base hit, nothing special just trying to make contact with the ball," said Booth, a Westfield resident. "Yeah, a lot of pressure. I just try to keep my focus on the pitcher and not the crowd. I stayed in the cage an extra half hour for that."

Said Sting coach Rob Atkocaitis: "Absolutely exciting. I really thought Brent was going to come though. I can tell when he's fired up, and I knew that nothing was going to get by him, no matter what pitch."

Sting starter Nomakeo allowed four hits and struck out eight in seven innings.

The Sting unleashed their offense with one swing in the fifth. Center fielder Mike Molta launched a two-run double to left field to score Atkocaitis and Albertson.

The Sting manufactured their first run in the fourth inning, when the speedy Chad Adams led-off with a double to right. After advancing to third on a slow chopper to second, Adams scored on a wild pickoff attempt at second.

LITTLE LEAGUE JUNIORS
Easthampton 9, Agawam 1: At Booster Field, host Easthampton took the winners' bracket behind the four-hit performance by John Volpe.

Volpe struck out five and walked three and allowed just a single run in the fourth inning. He was helped offensively by Kyle Dussault who was 3 for 3 with a double and three runs scored.

Thomas Lucia had a hit and three runs scored and Casey White and Nick Quinn each had a double.

Easthampton awaits the winner of the losers' bracket and will host the double-elimination championship on Saturday at Booster Field.

Southampton 17, Westfield 2: Southampton earned itself a date with Agawam tomorrow night for the right to face Easthampton in the championship. Eddie Hagelstein threw a two-hitter and had three hits and Mike Hagelstein was 3 for 4 with five RBIs.

AMERICAN LEGION
West Springfield 5, Belchertown 4: A sixth-inning rally came up short for Belchertown.

Brandon Obuchowski had two hits and scored twice, Kevin Dupras had a pair of hits and Sean Jarrett had two hits and two RBIs for Belchertown (5-8), which scored three runs in the sixth to get within a run.

Zach Theulen had two hits and scored a run and Kevin Rewinski had a double and an RBI for West Side (7-9).

East Springfield 3, South Hadley 2: Visiting East Springfield maintained first place as it held off South Hadley.

Dan Fenton had a pair of hits and Nick Laporte homered for East Side (11-3). Carm Bonavita picked up the win, allowing just three hits.

Derek Pelkey had an RBI triple and Kyle Callahan had a hit and scored a run for South Hadley (2-10).

Northampton 13, Westfield 2: Post 28 won its fourth straight game to solidify a place in the playoff hunt.

Tyler Kendrick fanned eight and walked two while allowing five hits for visiting Northampton (9-5).

Brian Moran had two of the five hits for Westfield (7-5).

East Longmeadow 4, Ludlow 0: Ludlow pulled off a triple play, but it wasn't enough to overcome Post 93's pitching.

Luke Sacharczyk tossed a two-hitter while Nick Ahmed and Mike Ahmed each had RBIs for East Longmeadow.

In the sixth, East Longmeadow had runners on first and third when Ludlow pulled off a 5-3-2-6 triple play.

TRI-COUNTY
Peoples 6, Oliver 0: Rory McDonald and Pat Consedine combined on a four-hit shutout at Mackenzie Stadium. Ryan Bradley had a two-run double, Mike Dombrowski had two hits and an RBI and Ryan Franczak had a run-scoring double for Peoples Bank.

Springfield 3, Manny's 2: The Braves scored two runs in the top of the seventh to beat host Manny's as Paul Pollini was 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

METRO SOFTBALL
Palmer 12, Wilbraham-Monson 0: Palmer rapped 19 hits in support of Alysia Morrissette, who did not allow a run on six hits and struck out eight. Katelyn Swarts had four hits with three RBIs, Tabitha Ruggeri and Darcy Fortune each had three hits and Vicki Roberts and Alicia Reynolds had two apiece.

Deerfield 13, Westfield 1: Sarah Logan struck out nine and tossed a four-hitter for host Deerfield. Ema Ram had two hits and Katie Bachinski a triple and three RBIs for Deerfield.

Chicopee Pacers 13, South Hadley Tigers 3: Kayla O'Connor had three hits and three RBIs and Kris Duplisea had a three-run triple for Chicopee.

Longmeadow 7, Amherst 4: Chelsea Ganes had a pair of hits including a double for host Longmeadow.

Bryan Roy contributed
to this report. 

By GARRY BROWN
gbrown@repub.com

BOSTON - In back-to-back victories over the Minnesota Twins, the Boston Red Sox bullpen has regained some of the respect lost on the last road trip.

"In the bullpen, you pick each other up, just like the hitters do," said David Aardsma, the winning pitcher in Tuesday night's 6-5 comeback against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park.

"Okie (Hideki Okajma) came through for us in the first game, and Pap (Jonathan Papelbon) came through with a couple of big saves. Tonight, I gave up a run there in the eighth, but we got a double play and wound up winning the ballgame," Aardsma said.

THAT MAN MOSS: Sox manager Terry Francona gave Brandon Moss a chance to start last night, and he came through with a sacrifice fly, then the game-winning hit.

"He does a lot of good things. Because of our roster, he's not been a regular, but he's going to be an everyday player in the major leagues," Francona said.

RESTING, ALMOST: Jason Varitek wasn't in the starting lineup.

Did his batting slump (.128 over his last 35 games) have anything to do with it? Maybe so, but Francona said it was a case of his No. 1 catcher needing a break from a grinding schedule made worse by the stress of travel and one-run ballgames.

"All of that can wear on you a little bit," Francona said.

"I've learned after being here for five years that you can't ask Tek if he needs a day off. So I told him I was going to pick one of the next two."

In the seventh inning, Francona needed a pinch hitter for Kevin Cash. That meant catching duty for Varitek over the last two innings.

CHECKING PAPI: David Ortiz continued to get his swings in the batting cage. The condition of his injured left wrist (torn tendon sheath) will be re-evaluated at the end of the week, which could then lead to a rehab assignment in Triple A after the All-Star break.

"He will need that. We don't want that first check-swing to be against K-Rod," Francona said.

His reference was to Francisco Rodriguez, closer for the American League West-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Sox play at Anaheim in their first series after the All-Star Game break.

THE STREAKERS: Dustin Pedroia's 16-game hitting streak brings to mind some other streaky second baseman in Red Sox history.

The longest hitting streak by a Sox second sacker is 22 games, accomplished by Denny Doyle of the 1975 pennant-winning team.

Jose Offerman had a 20-game hitting streak in 2000. Jerry Remy, now a big name in the Red Sox broadcasting booth, had two hitting streaks during his injury-shortened career - 19 games in 1978, 16 in 1981.

MANNY MONEY: You can take Manny Ramirez' name off the list of the famous and not-so-famous who have abandoned property with the state.

An agent for the Red Sox slugger has completed the process with the state Treasury to claim a $10,000 check that had languished after being written by the Reebok Corp.

The left-fielder also will get back an additional $49.56 in interest in accordance with state rules for vendor payments that go unclaimed and are turned over to the state.

Treasurer Timothy Cahill said in a statement that his department wants to return unclaimed money regardless of the owner's name or public stature.

Associated Press material
was used in this report.

By GARRY BROWN
gbrown@repub.com

BOSTON - There's something about Fenway Park. Whatever it is - charm, mystique, history or Wally the Green Monster - the Boston Red Sox know how to use it to their advantage.

So they did again Tuesday night, thundering from behind with a four-run eighth to stun the Minnesota Twins 6-5 before a roaring multitude of 37,925.

Manny Ramirez tied the game with two-run Monster shot on the first pitch, then rookie Brandon Moss delivered the game-winner. His single to center scored Kevin Youkilis, who had doubled with two out.

"We actually had a good situation going there in the eighth with the top of the order coming up, and we came out of it with a W against a really good team," Moss said. "They're young, but they have a lot of good players, and they've pitched real well against us.

"In my at-bat, he (reliever Matt Guerrier) bounced a slider to get Youk to third, and I figured he wouldn't throw another one in that situation. I thought fastball, got it and was able to put the barrel on it," Moss said.

Ramirez, whose single had won a 1-0 game Monday night, came through with his first homer of July. He has 17 for the season, 507 for his career, and still is a darling of old Back Bay despite his recent spate of strikeouts.

After that rally, Jonathan Papelbon came on for his 27th save as the Red Sox ran their Fenway record to 33-10. (They're only 21-29 on the road).

It was a hairy ninth for Papelbon, who got into trouble when Nick Punto led with a double and reached third on a sacrifice bunt. Pap and the Sox escaped when he fanned Carlos Gomez and got Alexi Casilla on a grounder to end it.

The victory went to David Aardsma (3-2), in relief of left-hander Jon Lester. Aardsma allowed a run-scoring single by the eighth to give the Twins a 5-2 lead, but got out of the inning when the Sox negotiated what would prove to be a game-turning double play.

Boston's winning inning started with a Jacoby Ellsbury double, followed by a Dustin Pedroia single.

J.D. Drew's infield out scored Ellsbury to make it 5-3. Then came Manny, Youkilis and Moss as the crowd went nuts.

Lester, who threw a complete-game shutout against the New York Yankees in his last start, extended his string of scoreless innings to 12 before the Twins nailed him for four hits and three runs in the fourth.

The Red Sox had taken a 1-0 lead in the first on a leadoff single by Ellsbury, and a wall double by the left-swinging Drew. The fleet Ellsbury easily scored from first as Delmon Young chased the carom.

After Drew's double, Twins starter Nick Blackburn put down 11 in a row before Youkilis singled to lead off the fifth. He made it to third on two ground-outs, but the inning ended when Denard Span made a nice catch of a foul down the right field line by Kevin Cash.

The Twins took a 4-1 lead in the seventh on a leadoff double by Brendan Harris and a one-out single by Span.

The Bosox made it 4-2 in the seventh when Youkilis boomed a one-out triple off the left-center wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by Moss.

By GARRY BROWN
gbrown@repub.com

BOSTON - Jason Varitek had last night off as the Boston Red Sox played the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park.

Did his batting slump (.128 over his last 35 games) have anything to do with it? Maybe so, but manager Terry Francona said it was a case of his No. 1 catcher needing a break from a grinding schedule made worse by the stress of travel and one-run ballgames.

"All of that can wear on you a little bit," Francona said.

"I've learned after being here for five years that you can't ask Tek if he needs a day off. So I told him I was going to pick one of the next two, and then we have an off day (tomorrow)."

Francona's choice was to play Kevin Cash last night, and have Varitek catch Josh Beckett this afternoon in Game 3 of the Twins series.

Game conditions later forced Francona to alter his thinking. He needed a pinch hitter for Cash in the seventh, first using Sean Casey, then calling him back to have Triple A callup Jeff Bailey face lefty reliever Dennys Reyes.

That meant catching duty for Varitek over the last two innings.

CHECKING PAPI: David Ortiz continued to get his swings in the batting cage. The condition of his injured left wrist (torn tendon sheath) will be re-evaluated at the end of the week.

Ortiz incurred the injury when he swung at a low-and-away pitch. With that in mind, he has been taking slow and easy swings at such pitches. So far, those swings have not been bothersome.

Indications are that the Red Sox slugger - on the disabled list since June 3 - could be ready for some rehab games after the All-Star Game break.

Francona said as much when he was asked if Ortiz would need a rehab assignment in Tripe A.

"He will need that. We don't want that first check-swing to be against K-Rod," Francona said.

His reference was to Francisco Rodriguez, closer for the American League West-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Sox play at Anaheim in their first series after the All-Star break.

THE STREAKERS: Dustin Pedroia's 15-game hitting streak brings to mind some other streaky second baseman in Red Sox history.

The longest hitting streak by a Red Sox second sacker is 22 games, accomplished by Denny Doyle of the 1975 pennant-winning team.

Jose Offerman had a 20-game hitting streak in 2000. Jerry Remy, now a big name in the Red Sox broadcasting booth, had two hitting streaks during his injury-shortened career - 19 games in 1978, 16 in 1981.

Other notable hitting streaks by Sox second basemen: Dave Stapleton, 19 games in 1980; Todd Walker, 19 in 2003; Pete Runnels, 16 in 1959; Jeff Frye, 16 in 1996; and Mark Loretta, 15 in 2006.

MANNY MONEY: You can take Manny Ramirez' name off the list of the famous and not-so-famous who have abandoned property with the state.

An agent for the Red Sox slugger has completed the process with the state Treasury to claim a $10,000 check that had languished after being written by the Reebok Corp.

The left-fielder also will get back an additional $49.56 in interest in accordance with state rules for vendor payments that go unclaimed and are turned over to the state.

Treasurer Timothy Cahill said in a statement that his department wants to return unclaimed money regardless of the owner's name or public stature.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report