BOSTON - Manny, finally, was being Manny.

After sleep-walking much of this season with the bat in his hand, Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez brought the largest post-World War II crowd in Fenway Park history (37,216) to its feet with the second of his two, towering home runs, which went to right field over the fence above the Sox bullpen.

The homer put the Sox ahead, 8-7, and sent the Red Sox to Minnesota with an American League best record of 18-9.

"There is nothing else to say, he's amazing," said Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo, who made two bad defensive plays in the Mariners' five-run first inning. "He just hits."

Last night marked the second meeting between Japanese greats Daisuke Matsuzaka and Ichiro Suzuki. It also marked the second time their much ballyhooed match-up was overshadowed. In fact, both were disappointments as Matsuzaka allowed seven runs in five innings while Ichiro went hitless.

Wily Mo Pena made the most of his start - J.D. Drew was given another day off because of an illness - with four hits.

But it was Ramirez who stole the show in the eighth inning, belting an outside fastball by ex-Sox farm-hand Chris Reitsma to right. In the second inning, he tagged a fastball over the middle of the plate over the Green Monster for two runs.

After Seattle had opened with five runs in the first inning, the Red Sox answered back in the second with five runs of their own, including Ramirez's homer.

The two homers had historical significance, too, as Ramirez tied Willie Stargell and Stan Musial at 27th all-time with 475 homers.

"I thought the timing was perfect," said Sox manager Terry Francona. "The ball he hit to right, the ball was absolutely leaned on. He hit that ball like a power left-handed hitter. I can see why I thought he admired it."

In other big news last night, J.C. Romero was the Red Sox closer and not Jonathan Papelbon, who has not pitched since Tuesday night.

As soon as Ramirez hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth, putting the Red Sox ahead, 8-7, it was expected that the Sox closer would be warming up in the bullpen to close the game.

Instead, Romero and Joel Pinero remained warming up. When the inning ended, though, Francona stayed with Brendan Donnelly, who entered the game with one out in the seventh. Donnelly walked the first batter and was replaced with Romero, who induced a double play to Kevin Youkilis and then a soft-grounder to Mike Lowell to end the game.

In his first blown save of 2007, Papelbon threw 35 pitches on Tuesday night against the A's.

"(Papelbon) actually felt great," said Francona. "I overrode his feeling great. I just think that it's too long of a year and we love so much when he comes in and dominates. It's not an easy thing to do (sitting him), but I think it's the right thing to do."

Dice-K's long day

Starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka last night had his third consecutive shaky outing, allowing seven earned runs in just five innings.

He struggled from the opening pitch, walking the bases loaded. He didn't get help in the field, especially with Julio Lugo botching two makable plays at shortstop. But five walks is, well, five walks.

Sox catcher Jason Varitek was seen talking to Matsuzaka before leaving the clubhouse. Varitek grabbed Matsuzaka's head with both of his hands, forcing the pitcher to look up. He wanted his pitcher to keep his head up.

"I don't really know what happened," said Matsuzaka about his 35-pitch first inning. "During the past few games, the manager and coaching staff and (Varitek) have all told me to be confident in my own stuff and to pitch my own game ... I don't think it is a lack of confidence in my stuff that is a problem."

The Japanese media asked Matsuzaka if the league was now "catching up" with him.

He shook his head in disapproval.

"I don't think so," he said. "I think so far that the runs that I have allowed to score have been really my responsibility but, at the same time, I don't think we are even at the point that we can say that the batters are getting used to me."

Matsuzaka's earned run average is now 5.45.

Romero earns the save

The biggest beneficiary of Papelbon's rest was Sox lefty reliever J.C. Romero.

Apparently, the bullpen pitchers were informed that Papelbon was going to get a day off.

"I love the closer thing, I really do," said Romero, who became the fourth Sox reliever to get a save, joining Hidecki Okajima, Timlin and, of course, Papelbon. "I close in Winter League. That's all I do. I love it when the fans stand up and this park is electric. It's one of the reasons I came here."

Romero says he gets a bad rap against right-handed hitters.

"I'm not a lefty specialist," said Romero. "I know my numbers didn't look good against righties, but I gave up a lot of flares. Righties don't hit the ball hard off me."

Timlin on the DL, Hansack joins Sox

Just before the start of the game, the Red Sox announced Mike Timlin would be placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder and that Davern Hansack (1-3, 3.77) would be called up from Pawtucket. Hansack had started five games in AAA, but will go to the bullpen.

Hansack is only the ninth native of Nicaragua to appear in a major league game. Hansack's last major league outing was a good one, not allowing a hit in a rain-shortened complete game win (9-0) over the Orioles on Oct. 1.

Sox-Mariners: By the numbers

4 - Number of hits Wily Mo Pena had last night, the second four-hit game of his career.

9 - Number of consecutive games in which Kevin Youkilis has hit safely. He is hitting .371 over that span (13 for 35).

15 - Number of wins Red Sox have had when they've scored five or more runs. They have not lost when scoring five or more runs.

27 - Where Manny Ramirez ranks all-time in home runs after hitting his 474th and 475th last night, the second of which ties him with Stan Musial and Willie Stargell.

35 - The number of pitches thrown by Dice-K in the first inning last night. He finished throwing 96 pitches over five innings.

41 - Number of consecutive successful steals by Ichiro Suzuki, tying an American League record. The major league record is 50 by Vince Coleman.

320 - Number of consecutive sell-outs at Fenway Park, beginning in May 15, 2003.

37,216 - The attendance at last night's game, the largest crowd ever to see a game at Fenway Park since World War II.