BOSTON — Who needs Manny Ramirez when you have Jacoby Ellsbury?

OK, maybe that is a bit of a stretch, but it borders on fact. With Ramirez still out of the lineup because of an oblique strain and no timetable for his return, Ellsbury has filled in nicely in left field and in the batting order.

With his 3-for-3 performance — a single, home run and triple — from the No. 9 spot last night, he has now hit safely in four consecutives games since his recall from Pawtucket on Saturday. In that stretch, he has gone 8-for-12 (.667) with a double, a triple, 2 homers, 5 RBI, 5 runs scored, 2 stolen bases and a walk.

Wow!

“It feels good to get off to a fast start,” he said. “It builds the confidence from there.”

His two home runs in as many games with Boston matches his total in 436 minor-league at-bats this season between Portland and Pawtucket.

“I think that might be a little premature,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona when asked if Ellsbury is becoming a power hitter. “I’m glad he saved them up. He’s impacting every game he plays, which is not only exciting but it’s very beneficial in us winning. He’s a very exciting young player. That’s stating the obvious.”

Ellsbury’s home run last night came off Toronto starter Roy Halladay, one of the premier pitchers in the majors, in the fourth inning and drove in two runs.

“He has filthy pitches,” said Ellsbury. “Tonight I was just seeing the ball really well and fortunately put three good swings on them.”

The rookie sensation was a double shy of the cycle. Had he accomplished that feat, it really would have been special for the Sox’ rookie corps, coming on the heels of Clay Buchholz’s no-hitter on Saturday.

If the Red Sox had batted in the bottom of the ninth, Ellsbury would have led off the inning. But reliever Jonathan Papelbon closed it out in the top half of the inning for his 33rd save of the season.

“It would have been nice,” said Ellsbury of the cycle. “More importantly, we got the win, but it would have been nice to get that fourth AB.”

His current stint with Boston is his third this season, and he said every game he plays he’s getting more and more comfortable. It’s almost scary to think what kind of player he could be when he’s 100 percent comfortable at this level.

“The last month in Pawtucket, I started using my legs and my swing has been coming around,” said Ellsbury. “Since then, I’ve started to hit the ball a little hard and it’s nice to see those results.”

There’s been a lot of hoopla surrounding Ellsbury ever since the Red Sox selected him 23rd overall in the 2005 draft, and with his presence now at Fenway Park, he’s quickly becoming a fan favorite.

“You definitely feed off the crowd,” he said. “Right now, I’m just seeing the ball really well.”

His family has been in town for about a week, watching him play in Pawtucket and now here.

“It’s nice to have them here,” he said. “To have my mom see me play professional for the first time has been nice.”

Francona said recently that as soon as Ramirez is ready to play, he’ll be back in the lineup. If Ellsbury continues to perform the way he has, Ramirez won’t have to rush his rehab.

“I’m just happy the last few games to be put in the lineup,” said the rookie, “no matter where I’m playing or where I’m batting in the lineup.”

jmcdonal@projo.com