Red Sox manager Terry Francona has lost slugger David Ortiz’s big bat to a left wrist injury suffered Saturday night.

AP / Steve Ruark

BALTIMORE — Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has been placed on the disabled list with what manager Terry Francona described last night as a partially torn ECU (or extensor carpi ulnaris) tendon sheath in his left wrist.

“It’s what holds the tendon in place,” said Francona. “Surgery is very unlikely, but he will be placed on the disabled list.”

The Sox’ manager said Ortiz will be placed in a splint or soft cast and the club will have more information today.

The Red Sox today recalled Chris Carter from Pawtucket. The 25-year-old outfielder, acquired last year from Washington in the trade for Wily Mo Pena, left Charlotte this morning en route to Fenway.

Prior to last night’s game, team physician Thomas Gill met with GM Theo Epstein and had a conference call with Francona to discuss the situation. After the game, the manager spoke with Epstein again, but Francona did not want to speculate how long Ortiz would be out of the lineup.

“All of us want a chance to talk with David, with the doctors,and we’ll map this out to the best of their ability,” Francona said.

Ortiz had an MRI taken on his injured left wrist at 2:30 yesterday afternoon in Boston. Ortiz suffered the injury during an at-bat on Saturday and said he felt a ‘pop’ when he hit a foul ball.

Most of the Red Sox players didn’t know about the situation until after last night’s game.

“We just have to keep playing the same way we’re playing until he gets back,” said Manny Ramirez, who always hits fourth in the order behind Ortiz. “He’s a big part of the team and we need him. What can you do? You don’t plan on getting hurt. When things happen you have to be patient. We’ll play like we’ve been playing and we’ll wait for him.”

With Ortiz on the shelf for now, Ramirez will serve as the club’s DH.

“I think it’s nice to give him [a rest from playing left field] sometimes and keep his bat in there,” said Francona. “I don’t think he wants to be a DH, nor do we want him to be.”

Ramirez’s hamstring, according to Francona, is a little sore.

Carter is hitting .316 with 10 homers and 35 RBI in 56 games for the PawSox this season.

Around the horn

Brandon Moss has been named the International League Batter of the Week. The 24-year-old Red Sox prospect recorded a four-homer week and a .400 average. He belted three homers in one game on Saturday in Durham. … Francona gave second baseman Dustin Pedroia the day off last night, his first of the season. He had started all 57 games until last night. The manager said Pedroia is a little beat up and felt it was a good time to finally give him a rest. “We want to give him a night to rebound,” said Francona. … There were many empty seats at Camden Yards last night as the majority of visiting Red Sox fans had flown home.

jmcdonal@projo.com