Youkilis hit but hangs in
Wrist is bruised; X-rays negative
 Kevin Youkilis was likely looking forward to today's day off soon after getting hit by this Luke Hochevar pitch in the top of the first. (AP Photo) |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There was almost no chance Kevin Youkilis could remain in the game. Still, after Red Sox manager Terry Francona and the trainers had come out to examine his right wrist in the first inning last night, Youkilis walked over to first base despite being in obvious pain.
"I knew I could run out there," Youkilis said. "I'm a little quicker than [Sean ] Casey, so it was probably the best thing to keep me in the game."
But not for much longer. Youkilis had been hit just under his right thumb by a pitch from Royals starter Luke Hochevar. Once he was removed from the game after the top of the first, he was taken for X-rays, which were negative, and was listed as having a right hand contusion.
"A pretty good bruise," Francona said. "The good news is that there's no break. By the time I got out there, it was already turning black. I think the trainers think there's a decent chance he'll play [tomorrow]. So that's good news. It sounds like it's a matter of a day or two, as opposed to something that looked like it had a chance to be bad."
Standing at his locker after the game, Youkilis pulled back his sleeve to reveal a bright red and swollen wrist, saying, "It hurts like [heck] still. It's swelling like [heck] and it's bruised up.
"It's just throbbing, swollen and throbbing a little bit. Little movements here and there hurt, but that's what's going to happen when you get hit. All the blood and everything is shooting to that, trying to protect it. But usually when I wake up from stuff like this the next day I feel a lot better."
With today's day off, Youkilis will get treatment - both ice and heat - before it's determined whether he'll be ready for tomorrow's game in Chicago against the White Sox.
His decision to remain in the game before giving way to Casey may have been noble, but it was ill-fated. By hitting him, Hochevar loaded the bases for Mike Lowell, who lined to the pitcher - who doubled Youkilis off first, ending the inning.
Because Youkilis didn't record an at-bat, his 12-game hitting streak remains intact.
Faster production
Jed Lowrie's two RBIs in the fifth inning give him 22 in 101 at-bats this season. That matches fellow shortstop Julio Lugo's production - which came in 261 at-bats before he was placed on the disabled list . . . Jason Bay had two more hits, making him 11 for 26 (.423) with the Sox. He has at least one hit in all six games with Boston, and has an eight-game streak overall (including two with Pittsburgh).
Out of order
J.D. Drew led off for the third consecutive game, and Lowrie batted second with Dustin Pedroia getting the night off. Ellsbury, who hit his sixth homer, batted seventh, Kevin Cash eighth, and Alex Cora ninth.
"I actually thought about putting Ellsbury [second]," said Francona. "But then you've got left-left-left [in Drew, Ellsbury, and David Ortiz]. That is awfully inviting. I'm open. I'll actually go change it if you can come up with a better way. We spent a lot of time today, and were a little confused because [Pedroia] just hits there all the time. This way, with [Cora] hitting ninth, if they do want to bring in the lefty, [Pedroia's] sitting over there."
Aardsma close
David Aardsma, who has been on the disabled list retroactive to July 19 with a strained groin, threw an inning in Pawtucket Tuesday night and is likely to be activated for this weekend's series against the White Sox in Chicago. Chris Smith is the probable candidate to be sent to Triple A . . . There's still no word on whether former Indians closer Joe Borowski will accept the Red Sox' offer of a minor league contract . . . It appears unlikely the Sox would be interested in righthander Freddy Garcia, who worked out for numerous teams this week. With Garcia probably not ready until September, the Sox have better options in Bartolo Colon and minor leaguers . . . This weekend's series is the Red Sox' first at U.S. Cellular Field since Aug. 24-26, when they swept four games, outscoring the White Sox, 46-7.
