Red Sox play on without Manny

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The loss of Manny Ramirez, who was traded to the Dodgers in late July, has forced the Red Sox to change the way they play offensively. And it has given young Jacoby Ellsbury a chance to shine.

And he made the most of that Wednesday. The American League’s stolen base leader during the regular season, Ellsbury had a double, two singles, a pair of steals and both a run scored and a run knocked in during Boston’s 4-1 win over the Angels in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

Oh, and he also added a tremendous diving catch in center field to start the eighth inning, almost surely preventing a run since the Angels followed with consecutive hits.

‘Jacoby is always making plays out there,’ said Boston reliever Justin Masterson, who benefited from the play. ‘I always say I’m only as good as my defense.’

Added Boston Manager Terry Francona: ‘I really didn’t think he had any chance to catch that ball. It looked like it was in no-man’s land.’

Of course Manny had a pretty good night Wednesday as well, even if it wasn’t for the Red Sox. Ramirez belted a massive home run in the Dodgers’ playoff-opening 7-2 win over the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS, a homer that was shown on the huge scoreboards in left and right field at Angel Stadium while the Red Sox were taking batting practice.

‘I think Mikey Lowell said, ‘Geez did you see that pitch he hit out’,’ said Jason Bay, the man acquired in exchange for Ramirez who, coincidentally, also homered Wednesday. ‘Obviously he’s one of the best plays and one of the best postseason players of all time. Regardless of where he’s at.’

-- Kevin Baxter