BOSTON -- With Manny Ramirez off to the West Coast, the Red Sox need a new cleanup hitter. Enter Mike Lowell. The Sox’ third baseman began last night’s game against the A’s with a .279 average with 13 homers and 63 RBI.

“I don’t mind it,” he said. “My mindset doesn’t change. I told David [that] he won Player of the Month last year in September when I hit fourth, so he should be happy. When you hit in the middle, your approach is the same. I think we can make adjustments, and I don’t think that lineup is etched in stone. I like it and I’ll have more opportunities to drive in runs. Whatever lineup it is, as long as it translates into wins, that’s what we’re looking for.”

Lowell spent the early part of his interview yesterday afternoon not talking about Ramirez or his position in the order, but complaining about the parking ticket he got yesterday morning in the city.

He said he had just finished getting his hair cut when he noticed the meter maid placing the orange envelope on his windshield.

Lowell tried to explain that there were still seven minutes remaining on the meter, but he was still given the ticket.

“I think she was Rambo’s sister,” he said. “She was a stealth ninja.”

jmcdonal@projo.com