BOSTON – Some of the old vibrancy returned to the Red Sox lineup last night, even as something didn’t look quite right.
Who was that batting third, and what had he done with David Ortiz?
It turns out Big Slumpi wasn’t abducted, but merely given a night off by manager Terry Francona, who put the sizzling J.D. Drew in the third spot and allowed Manny Ramirez to receive a partial rest as the designated hitter.
There was no regret afterward. The Red Sox pounded Phil Hughes early, and finished with their second-highest scoring output of the season in an 8-5 victory over the Yankees at Fenway Park.
The middle of the Papi-less lineup did its part, with Drew walking twice and scoring two runs, Ramirez contributing two hits and an RBI and Kevin Youkilis adding two hits and two RBIs.
It was also a good night for Ortiz, because his batting average didn’t dip any lower. He remains at .070, in the midst of a 1-for-29 skid, but still wondering when he will get his next hit.
Ortiz normally might have objected to Francona’s decision he skip a Yankees-Red Sox game, but as somebody who began yesterday’s play with the lowest batting average among major league qualifiers he certainly couldn’t be insulted by the suggestion.
“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think he needed it,” Francona said. “And for us to do some things offensively with him not in there was good.”
The Yankees still had to deal with Ramirez, who delivered an RBI single as part of a three-run first inning before helping ignite a four-run outburst in the third with an infield single.
Breaking his silence – he hardly had uttered more than a few syllables to reporters in recent days – Ortiz said he’s been pressing at the plate.
“I’m just trying to figure things out for a minute, so I can go back to being Big Papi again,” Ortiz said.
But he was amused to hear that his No. 34 jersey, which a construction worker had cemented into the new Yankee Stadium, was extracted yesterday. He’s hoping the jersey can find its way back under the stadium.
“I’m going to have to call my people in New York to take care of it when everybody is sleeping,” Ortiz said. “I’ve got to give them a more specific location.”
Youkilis credited the jersey excavation with the Red Sox outburst.
“They took that jersey out and woke [us] up,” Youkilis said. “It might come back to haunt them.”
mpuma@nypost.com