The Red Sox got David Ortiz back, but were without slugger Manny Ramirez when they opened a three-game series Friday night against the New York Yankees. Boston manager Terry Francona said earlier in the day that he was hoping Ramirez, who has a sore right knee, would be in the lineup, but also said he would ask the left fielder to let him know if he could not play. "It's the same knee that has been bothering him for awhile," said Francona, who originally posted a lineup that included Ramirez.

Ramirez was not available for comment, but was seen in the clubhouse with a wrap around his knee. He also missed Wednesday's game in Seattle before Thursday's day off.

Kevin Youkilis took Ramirez's cleanup spot behind the returning Ortiz. Jacoby Ellsbury, originally scheduled to bat ninth and play center field, started in left field and hit leadoff. Coco Crisp started in center field and hit ninth after being left out of the original lineup.

Ortiz was activated off the disabled list Friday after missing 45 games for the Red Sox with a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his left wrist. He hurt himself swinging at a pitch against Baltimore on May 31.

On Friday, he struck out swinging in his first at bat, against Joba Chamberlain, but Dustin Pedroia, who had singled, stole second on the third strike.

Ortiz recently completed a six-game minor league rehab assignment, three at Triple-A Pawtucket and three at Double-A Portland. He hit .294, going 5-for-17 with three homers and six RBIs.

He entered Friday's game batting .252 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 54 games with Boston.

"We're used to having to get ready for him," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "People talk about additions around the trade deadline. That's a pretty good one."

The Red Sox had optioned outfielder Brandon Moss to Pawtucket on Thursday to make room on the roster for Ortiz.

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