NEW YORK -- Slumping Boston Red Sox outfielder Hanley Ramirez, who was in Torey Lovullo's original starting lineup Friday, was a late scratch because of what the interim manager termed "a little shoulder fatigue" in his throwing shoulder.

Ramirez earlier this season hurt his left shoulder, which he has had surgically repaired twice, banging into the side wall in the left-field corner at Fenway Park. This is a new issue.

"It made sense to give him a day down today and see where he's at tomorrow," Lovullo said.

Lovullo said he wasn't sure how Ramirez hurt his right shoulder. "Probably from swinging and throwing," he said. "I'm not really sure. He's very aware of his body. He's in contact with the trainers on a daily basis."

If that's he case, he has been in contact with the trainers more than he has the baseball. Ramirez was 1-for-11 in Chicago, is batting .164 (9-for-55) in August, and .183 (20-for-109) since the All-Star break, with more strikeouts (23) than hits (20).

This was also the week Ramirez began working out at first base.