By ERIC BENEVIDES

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET --- Paul McAnulty and Chip Ambres were outfielders for the San Diego Padres during the end of last season when Manny Ramirez joined their division rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and proceeded to tear up the National League over the final two months of the year and lead the Dodgers to the division title.
On Thursday afternoon, McAnulty and Ambres, who are now teammates on the Pawtucket Red Sox, were among the players in the clubhouse who were stunned by the news that rocked the sports world -- Ramirez was suspended 50 games for violating baseball’s anti-drug policy -- and still trying to piece together the tidbits they knew.
When the news broke just before noon, the PawSox were in the field getting ready for their 12:05 p.m. finale against the Toledo Mud Hens. Ambres, who had the day off, was sitting in the dugout, while McAnulty, who was playing first base, was stretching out in the outfield.
But as the game got under way, fragments of the news about the enigmatic slugger (who played for the Boston Red Sox from 2001 until his trade to the Dodgers last July 31) slowly, but surely, circulated throughout the field and around the stadium.
“I didn’t hear about it until the third inning,” said McAnulty. “It’s a surprise to me. I still really don’t know anything about it, but it’s a personal decision he made and I guess we’ll see what happens.”
Ambres, who went to spring training with Ramirez and the Red Sox in ’05, shared the same feelings as McAnulty.
“It is surprising,” said Ambres. “A couple of guys found out about it on TV, but we were more focused on this game. I still don’t think anyone knows the whole story, but I‘m sure we will once we hear or read more about it.”
Ambres later learned that Ramirez had tested positive for a women’s fertility drug called human chorionic gonadotropin, which is believed to lighten the effects of steroid use, and he didn’t know how to respond.
“I don’t know what to say,” Ambres added as he shook his head in disbelief. “I never heard about anything like that. It‘s surprising, but I guess whatever happens in the dark usually comes out in the light.”
“I don’t know what else is going to happen with him,” said McAnulty, “but all he can do is pay his dues and get right back into it.”

Seems like 2005 again for Ambres
When PawSox fans last saw Ambres roaming the McCoy Stadium outfield, it was four years ago and the former first-round pick of the Florida Marlins was enjoying an All-Star season with 10 homers, 50 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, and a .294 average.
Ambres then went to the big leagues -- with the Kansas City Royals, as the Red Sox traded him and a fellow minor leaguer for veteran second baseman Tony Graffanino on July 19.
He spent the rest of the season with the Royals and batted .241 in 53 games, but the following season, he found himself back in Triple-A with the Omaha Royals and that was the start of a roller coaster ride that saw him playing in the New York Mets’ and Padres’ organizations over the next two years.
But when Ambres again became a free agent after last year, he knew exactly where he wanted to go and what move would be best for his family.
“It was definitely this organization,” Ambres noted. “They treated me really well when I was here and I really wanted to come back.”
Ambres, who owns a .233 average in 80 games with the Royals, Mets, and Padres, has played in 25 of the PawSox’s 26 games and leads the club with 27 hits, 10 runs scored, and a .290 average. He also has two homers and 13 RBIs.
“All I want to do is keep working hard and playing my best,” said Ambres. “There’s always a lot of player movement, so you never know when you’re going to get called up.”
***
EXTRA BASES: Backup catcher Carlos Maldonado currently has the club’s longest hit streak at six games. … Reliever Daniel Bard is currently sporting a Goose Gossage-like mustache. … PawSox designated hitters are 0-for-33 in their last nine games. Yesterday’s