Sox' giant void

MLB. Last season, the Red Sox offense plunged into a precipitous tailspin after left fielder and Boston power source Manny Ramirez left the Boston lineup with tendinitis in his right knee.

Sox officials can only hope history doesn’t repeat itself with Ramirez expected to miss roughly 10 games with a strained left oblique muscle that shelved him for the bulk of the Yankees series this week.

In the 27 games that Ramirez missed after the fateful five-game sweep by the Yankees at Fenway Park last summer, the Sox averaged a paltry 3.5 runs per game — down from an average of 5.28 runs per game prior to that. The numbers paint the picture of a huge disparity in runs scored and an offensive slow down the Manny-less Sox could ill afford during their drive to an AL East pennant.

While Manny’s teammates aren’t enthused about playing big games without the thunder in the middle of their lineup, they know they’ll have to pick up the slack until the oblique — an injury that’s a constant danger to reaggravate if not given the proper time to heal — is feeling good enough to get him back in the swing of things.

“I’m not going to panic,” Sox catcher Jason Varitek said. “That’s not really an excuse.

“We’ve found different ways to win out there this year. Of course, you can’t replace Manny in the lineup, but that’s no excuse. You need to continue to go out there and have good at-bats, and good things are going to happen.”

Until a healthy Ramirez returns to the lineup, the Sox will mostly likely rotate Bobby Kielty, Eric Hinske and possibly Jacoby Ellsbury once rosters expand on Sept. 1. Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell may take turns in Manny’s customary cleanup spot.

In the brief time the switch-hitting Kielty has been in the lineup, he’s been adept at hitting left-handed pitching as advertised, but has also handled himself well against right-handed pitching.

“I haven’t been able to play that much the last two years, so I really want to get in there and play as much as possible,” said Kielty, who should be available to get back into the lineup tonight after an MRI and X-Rays came back negative in New York.

Without Ramirez in the lineup, the Sox were no-hit through five innings in back-to-back games against the Yankees. Boston managed to score just six runs and scrape up 13 hits in the three-game series.

That this comes on the heels of scoring an astounding 46 runs in four games against a beleaguered White Sox pitching staff tells Sox manager Terry Francona that better batting days may be ahead. Coco Crisp (.214), J.D. Drew (.167), Dustin Pedroia (.229) and Julio Lugo (.194) all suffered through difficult road trips and will need to pull their weight in a world without Manny.

“I think we’re just going to play this one out,” Francona said. “Manny is such an impact player that sometimes you have to ride it out. We’re going to just deal with it the best we can and try our best to win.”