Bummer...we really need him right now. I'm praying he'll heal fast and
come back stronger than ever!

I hope everyone is having a good week.

Lynne

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NEW YORK -- Manny Ramirez was not in Boston's starting lineup
Wednesday night because of a strained muscle on his left side, and the
Red Sox slugger likely will be sidelined for several days.

Ramirez came out of Tuesday night's game against the New York Yankees
in the seventh inning after aggravating the injury. He was examined by
two doctors Wednesday and wasn't sure how long he might be out.

"I don't know. Maybe a week?" Ramirez said.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona acknowledged Ramirez almost certainly
would miss the final two games of the Yankees series and probably
won't be available until at least Friday night against Baltimore.

"I hate to say he's not going to play before we need to, but that's
realistic," Francona said. "He showed up early today -- pretty sore.
It's not worse than he was yesterday, which is good."

Eric Hinske started in left field for the Red Sox and batted ninth.
Mike Lowell moved up to the cleanup spot. Boston began the night with
a seven-game lead in the AL East over the Yankees.

Ramirez hit his 20th homer of the season in the series opener Tuesday.
He is batting .292 with 86 RBIs and 32 doubles.

Ramirez, who grew up near Yankee Stadium, has always been a nemesis
for New York. He is hitting .479 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 27
games against the Yankees since the start of 2006.

He also has 52 career homers against New York, tied with Red Sox Hall
of Famer Carl Yastrzemski for fourth-most by a Yankees opponent.

New York manager Joe Torre said facing the Red Sox without Ramirez
makes "a huge difference."

"There's two reasons: First of all, you don't have Manny. And then you
don't have Manny sitting behind [David] Ortiz," Torre said.

Ramirez was replaced in left field Tuesday night by Bobby Kielty, who
was then removed in the eighth inning due to a sore lower back.

Kielty had X-rays on Wednesday, which were negative. His back has been
bothering him since he crashed into the low fence at Fenway Park to
make a terrific catch against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 19.

"If he needed to play tonight he could, but we'd rather not," Francona
said. "There are days like today when you are glad to have Hinske."

Source: ESPN.com