Hits keep coming

Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis did not linger to answer questions after yesterday's 10-1 win over the Yankees, but after being hit in the right wrist by a pitch from Chien-Ming Wang in the fifth inning, it appears doubtful he'll be in the starting lineup for tonight's rubber game.

Youkilis was hit just below the palm by a two-seam fastball that ran in on him as he began his swing. He was in pain before being led off the field by manager Terry Francona and trainer Paul Lessard, but later returned to the bench, wearing an icepack on his wrist.

X-rays taken at the ballpark were negative, and the injury was called a contusion by the club.

"Any time somebody gets hit in the wrist or the hand, there are so many bones there," Francona said. "His hand was shaking, he couldn't stop it. So, yeah, as always, [there was] a lot of concern. For Youks, there wasn't much chance of him staying in the game. And you know when a guy comes out, especially Youk, who has been hit a lot and doesn't come out of games, I was relieved when we got the report [on the X-rays] back."

Youkilis has been hit by a pitch six times by the Yankees since coming to the Sox, by six pitchers. Wang, Mariano Rivera, Scott Proctor, and Andy Pettitte have hit him this season, and Scott Erickson and Aaron Small got him in 2006. Yesterday was the 15th time Youkilis has been hit by a pitch this season, the highest number on the team. Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees, who has been hit by a pitch 20 times, leads the league in that category. Teammate Derek Jeter has been hit 14 times.

"Youks gets hit an awful lot," catcher Jason Varitek said. "He waits on a ball a long time, like Jeter, who gets hit a lot, too. We can't afford to lose him, but hopefully [Eric] Hinske can give us some good at-bats.

"He played the game right [in his collision with catcher Jorge Posada]. He's a huge part of this team, and could be an everyday guy in a lot of places."

Hinske, who hit a double in the sixth off Wang and a home run off reliever Ross Ohlendorf for Boston's last run in the eighth, said he is prepared for that possibility.

"That would be terrible for us," Hinske said of possibly losing Youkilis, "but I heard he's fine."

Josh Beckett hit Jason Giambi with two outs and nobody on in the seventh.

Plate umpire Gary Cederstrom warned Beckett and both benches after Giambi was plunked - the suspicion that it was retaliation for Youkilis being hit. Beckett gave up a flare single to Robinson Cano, but he struck out Melky Cabrera to end the inning, and his afternoon of work.