Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, up to bat in his first game back from the injured list last night. He laced a single in the first inning. The Sox won, 7-3.

Providence Journal / Kris Craig

BOSTON — It was a night of many happy returns — first Manny Ramirez, then Kevin Youkilis.

As the Red Sox kicked off their final homestand of the season, they got both players out of the trainer’s room and into the lineup — pointing in the right direction as the postseason draws closer.

Ramirez’s name on the Red Sox lineup card was something of a surprise inasmuch as his return from a strained left oblique muscle has been anticipated for so long that it wouldn’t have surprised many if the slugger didn’t return until this weekend.

He hadn’t played at all this month, and when he suffered a setback last week in Toronto during some running drills, the fear was that he might even be sidelined until the start of the Division Series.

But an hour-long batting practice session Monday, on the team’s off-day, apparently put Ramirez’s mind at ease, clearing him to return last night.

Just to add further intrigue, Ramirez was listed as the Sox’ number-two hitter — the better to get him additional at-bats and out of the game as quickly as possible.

As Ramirez sprinted to his position to start the game, the fans in the left field grandstand stood and applauded.

The real applause, however, was saved for his first plate appearance. As Ramirez strode purposefully to the plate in the bottom of the inning, Fenway stood as one and welcomed him back.

In his first game at-bat following a 24-game absence, Ramirez fell behind 1-and-2, then slammed a pitch on a line to right field, like he had never missed a beat.

For all his zaniness, Ramirez remains a hitting savant — unnaturally talented, abnormally focused at the plate.

“I’m not surprised,” said manager Terry Francona of Ramirez’s first hit in a 7-3 win over Oakland. “He can do that.”

What Ramirez can also do is provide the Red Sox lineup with a different look. In his absence, Mike Lowell offered David Ortiz protection. But with Ramirez, the lineup deepens. Now Lowell is fifth instead of fourth and Drew is sixth instead of fifth.

“All of a sudden,” said Francona, “the lineup is very different.”

The first night back for Ramirez was a limited success. Ramirez later popped out and then drew a fifth-inning walk. Then, he left for pinch-runner Brandon Moss, his first night of work complete.

“It was a good start,” said Terry Francona. “He came through it and said he felt fine.”

Francona said Ramirez will probably hit up in the batting order this afternoon, too, as the Sox continue to try to maximize his time at the plate while limiting his time in the field. It’s there, after all, where Ramirez is at the most risk, where he might have to make a quick motion to go after a ball and risks aggravating the oblique strain.

“The idea is to build,” said Francona, “and not go the other way.”

Youkilis’ return came without nearly as much fanfare.

After being struck in the right wrist by Chien-Ming Wang some 10 days ago, he pinch-hit for Eric Hinske in the fifth with runners at the corners, his first plate appearance since Sept. 15, and popped to second.

Later, in the seventh, he roped a liner to second, but A’s infielder Mark Ellis left his feet a bit to snare it and end the inning, stranding two baserunners.

“It’s not perfect yet,” cautioned Francona. “We’ll play him [today] and maybe we’ll hit him down lower in the order, just to let him build strength and not maybe [overdo it].”

“[I felt] alright, but definitely not 100 percent,” said Youkilis of his return, who was nevertheless encouraged. “Hopefully I’ll go out there each day and get better. I can swing, so that’s a good thing. It will progress. Hopefully, over the next five days, it’ll get stronger. Right now, it’s a little weak.”

There was good news all around: a Red Sox victory, an extra-inning Yankee defeat, and the return of two regulars.

Suddenly, the playoffs aren’t very far away at all and the Red Sox seem ready — just in time.

smcadam@projo.com