Ramirez lets his bat do the talking after controversy

By Steve Keating

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - A day after telling reporters that playoff elimination was "not the end of the world", Boston slugger Manny Ramirez played like there was no tomorrow on Thursday in helping the Red Sox stay alive this post-season.

Trailing 3-1 to the Cleveland Indians in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series, Ramirez drew the wrath of Boston media and Red Sox fans on Wednesday by playing down the importance of winning Game Five.

"We're not going to give up," Ramirez said. "It doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like it's the end of the world."

Once the dust had settled on his controversial comments, the left fielder got back to doing what he does best -- generating runs for the Red Sox.

Ramirez registered two hits, including the game-winning run, and was unfortunate to be denied a home run as the Red Sox eased to a 7-1 victory at Jacobs Field to send the teams back to Fenway Park for Game Six on Saturday.

Tied 1-1 in the third inning, Ramirez looked to blow open the contest when he connected on what appeared to be his fifth home run of the post-season.

But as he trotted to first base the ball dropped on top of the centre field wall and bounced fair holding the Boston slugger to a single, scoring David Ortiz.

FIRST CONTROVERSY

"The hard thing is there's so much emotion when you think you have another run," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

"From my understanding, even on replays it was hard to distinguish.

"I think as a manager there's a point where you don't care if it's right. You want the run."

Ramirez's contribution to the win is sure to quell the storm for now, but for thousands of die-hard Red Sox supporters the pre-game comments bordered on treason.

The slugger's off-the-cuff remarks exploded overnight into the series' first full-blown controversy with radio and television sports talk shows analyzing every word.

But while the media ponder the deeper meaning of Ramirez's remarks most people, including his team mates, have simply shrugged them off as "Manny being Manny".

Ramirez, whose antics have been well-documented over his all-star career has had trouble getting a reaction out of the crowd and opponents during the three games played at Jacobs Field.