Boston’s Ramirez Breaks Finger on Play at Plate

Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox broke the index finger on his left hand when he ran into Seattle Mariner catcher Dan Wilson’s shin guard in the second inning Saturday night at Seattle.

Ramirez hurt his hand while sliding into the plate while attempting to score from first base on Shea Hillenbrand’s double in the second. He was tagged out on a headfirst slide as Wilson blocked the plate.

The Red Sox said Ramirez would fly back to Boston today to be examined by Dr. Bill Morgan, the team’s physician.

Ramirez leads the American League with a .372 batting average. He has nine homers and runs batted in.

Ramirez made his second start of the season in right field. He was replaced by Trot Nixon in the bottom of the third.

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Mariner closer Kazuhiro Sasaki signed a two-year contract extension that takes him through the 2004 season.

The deal includes an option for a third year. Terms were not disclosed.

Sasaki rejoined the team Saturday, returning from a trip to Yokohama, Japan, where he went Thursday after his wife, Kaori, became ill.

Sasaki, 34, would have been eligible for free agency after this season.

“Kazu is an important part of our success the past two seasons,” General Manager Pat Gillick said. “In his role as closer, he is a key member of our bullpen and we are pleased to know he’ll be here through at least 2004.”

Sasaki, who set a Japanese career record with 229 saves from 1990-99, said his signing with the Mariners on the day of his return to Seattle from Japan was a coincidence.

“I knew my agent and the Mariners were talking and it was getting close,” he said through an interpreter.

“I found out it was ready to sign just before I came back to the United States.”

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General Manager Allard Baird, general manager of the Kansas City Royals, said he “would anticipate” that a manager would be selected within the next week to replace Tony Muser, fired April 29.

Baird has interviewed Bucky Dent, a former New York Yankee manager who is managing the Royals’ triple-A Omaha club; Houston Astro coach Tony Pena; Buck Showalter, who has managed Arizona and the Yankees, and Royal interim Manager John Mizerock.

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Free agent Wil Cordero signed with the Montreal Expos, the latest player to return this season for a second stint with the troubled franchise.

Cordero, released by Cleveland on April 29 with 999 career hits, became the third former Expo--after Andres Galarraga and Henry Rodriguez--to rejoin the team in what probably will be its final season.

The 30-year-old Venezuelan began his career with the Expos, from 1992-95.

He played in the 1994 All-Star game and won the NL shortstop Silver Slugger award after batting .294 with 30 doubles, 15 homers and 63 runs batted in during the strike-abbreviated season.