HOUSTON — Major League Baseball’s decision yesterday to reduce Coco Crisp’s suspension from seven games to five may help ease tensions when Boston and Tampa Bay Rays meet beginning Monday, but it won’t help the Red Sox’ outfield situation for the next five days.

Starting today, with Crisp serving out the suspension he was given for his participation in the bench-clearing brawl with Tampa back on June 5, the Sox will have to get by with only four outfielders — Manny Ramirez, Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew and Brandon Moss.

That’s particularly worrisome given that Ramirez has been bothered by a tight hamstring the last few weeks. But Francona said Ramirez told him he was fine to return to left field last night.

Francona, in fact, offered to give Ramirez the night off last night, with the knowledge that he couldn’t offer a break for the next five games. But Ramirez assured Francona that he was willing and able to play left and didn’t want to sit.

On the team’s recent six-game homestand, Ramirez was limited to DH duty so as to not further aggravate the hamstring. But today and tomorrow, as the Sox close out the interleague play portion of their schedule, the Sox will be without the DH, meaning Ramirez will have to play the outfield if he wants to remain in the lineup.

Starting Monday, when the Sox return to American League rules, they have the option of making Ramirez the DH and using an outfield of Moss in left, Ellsbury in center and Drew in right. Or, Francona could use Sean Casey as the DH, with Ramirez in left and Moss on the bench.

Either way, the Sox are left with limited late-inning options. Francona has a habit of pulling Ramirez late in games in which the Sox are ahead and replacing him a defensive upgrade while resting the slugger. But as Francona acknowledged yesterday, he may have to curtail that practice until the Sox get Crisp back from his suspension.

Beyond Moss, the Sox have others who could play the outfield in emergency situations.

Though he doesn’t like to do so, shortstop Julio Lugo can play the outfield, having filled in there while with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006. Kevin Youkilis played left field in September of 2006 when the Sox were shorthanded and utility man Alex Cora also has the ability and athleticism to shift positions for a short period.

smcadam@projo.com