By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In the evolving American League East, the Rays are one of the class teams.

They have one of the best managers in the game in Joe Maddon, a versatile lineup, and a deep pitching staff led by homegrown, dominant starters. For the patchwork Red Sox to beat them, mistakes can't be made.

(Yes, it has come to that. The team with the $64 million payroll and 17 fans is envied and the team with the $173 million payroll and boundless tradition is a wreck.)

Two silly mistakes did the Red Sox in Wednesday night in a 2-1 loss. With runners on first and third and two outs in the second inning, Clay Buchholz decided to get cute with the runners instead of striking out Jose Molina, a .197 hitter.

Buchholz buckled his knee before making a pickoff move. He was called for a balk and a run scored.

“I was going to go third to first. Came up and the back cleat sort of got caught and then I tried to spin around,” Buchholz said.

The third-to-first move is so ineffective that Major League Baseball is considering banning it. With a weak hitter at the plate, it makes even less sense.

“I don’t get it. Molina is at the plate,” said Bobby Valentine, who agreed it was a balk. “I don’t know.”

Molina, of course, struck out to end the inning.

It was the second time in nine games that the Red Sox allowed a run because of a balk, Daniel Bard having balked in a run against Kansas City May 8.

Franklin Morales had two balks later in the game. The Sox have six on the season. Five have come in two games. Here's a crazy idea, stop doing it.

In the sixth inning, Buchholz put runners on the corners with no outs. Valentine, burned before by leaving starters in too long, went to Andrew Miller.

He did his job, getting Luke Scott to swing at a high fastball and pop the ball up to shallow right field. The runner at third, Matt Joyce, wouldn’t dare try to score.

But right fielder Cody Ross stumbled, then he turned, and when he finally caught the ball, he was facing center field. Joyce tagged up, and by the time Ross spun back around and threw the ball, the run had scored

It proved to be the winning run.

Ross ran in, looked to see where second baseman Dustin Pedroia was, and when he tried to find the ball again, it was lost against the dingy off-white dome covering Tropicana Field. By the time Ross found the ball again, he was out of position.

“I tried to break my stride down and kind of tripped over myself and had to reach back and grab it,” Ross said. “Just a lot of stuff going on in that play. It was awful. It ended up costing us the game.

"That’s a play that has to be made. No excuses. It ended up being a big play and I feel terrible about it obviously.”

Jeremy Hellickson (4-0) and three relievers made the two runs stand up. When Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, and Adrian Gonzalez go 1 for 11, the Sox aren't going to score much.

Gonzalez has gone 103 at-bats without hitting a home run. His last came on Apri 17.

A few notes:

• The game was delayed in the eighth inning when Tampa Bay’s Will Rhymes passed out while at first base after being hit by a pitch from Morales. First base coach George Hendrick caught Rhymes and lowered him to the turf.

Rhymes was attended to by medical personnel and eventually got up and was taken off the field in a cart. X-rays were negative and Tampa Bay said he was overcome by an adrenaline rush.

“When I got to first I started to get really dizzy and nauseous,” Rhymes said. “That’s when I started walking it off. Apparently I didn’t get very far.”

Said Valentine: “My heart stopped.”

Morales said he planned to call Rhymes to check on him and was apologetic for hitting him with the pitch.

• Will Middlebrooks is 6 of his last 32 (.188) with 12 strikeouts and is down to .278. The scouting reports are starting to catch up with him a bit, as usually happens. He also made another mistake in the field, picking up a bunt that looked like it would roll foul.

Kevin Youkilis was 1 for 2 with a walk and a double for Pawtucket Wednesday night. He will get a day off Thursday and play third base Friday. Don't be surprised to see him this weekend in Philadelphia.

• The Sox are 4-9 against division foes. They've also lost 25 of their last 37 games at the Trop. Long gone are the days of showing up here, filling the place with their fans, and cuffing around the Rays for a few days.

• Daniel Nava has seven RBIs in seven games and has reached base in 18 of 28 plate appearances.

Game over:

Tough loss for the Red Sox. They committed three balks, one of them cost them a run and that was the difference in the game. Fernando Rodney saved it for Tampa Bay. The five-game winning streak is over. Time of game was 3:29 before 20,843.

Bottom 8th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

Another balk by Morales, his second in as many innings, advancing the runner to third. Morales also hit Rhymes to create a first and third one out. Valentine yanked Morales and brought in Scott Atchison. Rhymes was attended to when he collapsed after going to first base. First base coach George Hendrick held him as his body crumpled to the ground. He was carted off. We don't have a report on what exactly happened to him. Atchison did a great job getting out of it.

Top 8th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1
Sox go down.

Bottom 7th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

Franklin Morales walked Matt Joyce with two outs and then balked him to second. Morales fanned Luke Scott to end the inning.

Top 7th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

Mike Aviles singled with one out, but Mauro Gomez, who was pinch-hitting for Ryan Sweeney, knocked into an inning-ending double-play. Let's review pitching lines: Hellickson is out after six innings, which is a break for the Red Sox. Hellickson threw 104 pitches and allowed five hits and one run with two walks and six strikeouts. Jake McGee is on. Buchholz lasted five innings plus two batters, allowing six hits, two runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He committed a balk to score a run and also hit a batter.

Bottom 6th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

After Buchholz was struck with a liner from Matt Joyce, on which Joyce reached on an infield hit, Carlos Pena singled to right, sending Joyce to third. Bobby Valentine came out to get his pitcher. Did Valentine feel that Buchholz had hurt his leg? Luke Scott's medium fly to right vs. Andrew Miller was caught by Ross, who seemed to take a poor angle to the ball. It didn't create the best throwing position and Joyce was able to score. Miller, while creating a nail-biting moment when he walked Jose Molina to load the bases and went 3-2 to Elliot Johnson, struck Johnson out on a 94 mph fastball to get out of a jam and keep things close,

Top 6th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

Hellickson really dealing. Struck out Gonzalez and Middlebrooks, but Salty stroked his second hit (single) before Cody Ross sent a fly ball deep to center which BJ Upton tracked down.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

Buchholz showing some life with his rising fastball. He sets down the Rays in the fifth

Top 5th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

Let's update Kevin Youkilis DHing for Pawtucket vs. Durham - 1 for 2 with a walk and double. OK, 1-2-3 inning for Hellickson.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

Buchholz retired Carlos Pena on a pop up to Adrian Gonzalez in short right, and got Luke Scott on a soft liner to Dustin Pedroia before Sean Rodriguez singled off Will Middlebrooks's backhand. Will Rhymes then singled to right, sending Rodriguez to third. with runners at the corners, Jose Molina took a called thrid strike to end the inning.

Top 4th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

We focus on whether Will Middlebrooks will have take a seat when Kevin Youkilis returns. Wonder if Carl Crawford gets his job back if Daniel Nava continues to play as well as he has? Nava knocked in the tying run with a looping single to left-center that Matt Joyce failed to come up with on the dive. It drove in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who doubled to right with two outs. Cody Ross walked and that set up Nava's clutch hit. With runners at second and third, Mike Aviles grounded out to end the threat.

Bottom 3d: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

Slow, slower, slowest. My goodness could Clay Buchholz work any slower? Anyway, he allowed a bunt single by Elliot Johnson on a ball third baseman Will Middlebrooks probably should have let roll as it appeared it was heading foul. Johnson stole second, but Buchholz was able to escape striking out two of the next three batters.

Top 3d: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

A leadoff double by Mike Aviles and the Red Sox get absolutely nothing. Two fly outs by Ryan Sweeney and Dustin Pedroia and a ground out by David Ortiz. Yuk.

Bottom 2d: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

Buchholz wasn't quite as sharp, struggling with his control. After allowing a single to Carlos Pena, who beat the shift, Luke Scott was hit in the foot with a pitch. Sean Rodriguez helped Buchholz with a 5-4-3 double play grounder, but Buchholz walked Will Rhymes and balked in Tampa Bay's run.

Top 2d: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Ugly inning for Sox hitters. Hellickson makes Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Cody Ross, and Daniel Nava look silly as they all strike out.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Clay Buchholz is trying to match the superb efforts of Jon Lester and Josh Beckett in their last starts. Buchholz retired - Ben Zobrist, B.J. Upton, and Matt Joyce in order.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Will Middlebrooks struck out, stranding two runners in the first inning. With one out, Dustin Pedroia singled to left field and David Ortiz walked. Adrian Gonzalez flied to right and Middlebrooks took a called third strike against Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey has been cleared by his surgeon to start throwing next week.

Bailey was checked out by Dr. Thomas Graham earlier this week. The righthander has been out all season after having surgery on a torn thumb ligament.

"Boy, he's been working," Bobby Valentine said. "He's one of the guys, I'm sure we're going to have to hold him back."

As to other matters:

• Kevin Youkilis will get three at-bats as the DH for Pawtucket tonight, get the day off on Thursday and then play the field (third base) on Friday. He will be evaluated at that point.

• Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to pitch for Pawtucket on Thursday and again on Tuesday. His 30-day rehab assignment clock ends on May 23, a week from today.

"I don't think he's all that close. He might be but I don't think he is," Valentine said. "I don't think he's all that close to pitching in the major leagues."

Valentine acknowledged that the rehab assignment period will end. "There has to be something else we can do," he said. "It just means we started it too soon. You can't say, 'Hey the 30-day clock is done. Now the guy has to get into a major league game and get whacked.' That doesn't sound right to me."

Valentine said he has spoken to Matsuzaka and believes he is still searching for a proper delivery following his Tommy John surgery.

"That's why I don't think he's close," Valentine said. "I'm not sure he's put his elbow situation behind him yet. I don't think he totally understands where he is with his elbow, which is very important."

• Felix Doubront was checked for a concussion after getting conked in the head by a ball during batting practice on Tuesday. He's fine and will start on Thursday.

• Rich Hill was hit by a ball in BP today. He appeared to be fine but came off the field to get checked out.

• Carl Crawford could return to swinging a bat once the team returns from the road trip. He has been out all season with left wrist and subsequent left elbow issue. He had a PRP injection in his elbow in late April.

• Valentine isn't crazy about Ryan Sweeney batting leadoff. But it's working for the team so he's sticking with it. Sweeney is .174/.208/.174 as a leadoff hitter in five games this season (his last five games). He's in an overall 12 of 52 slump (.231) in his last 14 games.

Mike Aviles has a .292 OBP, which is why he was dropped out of leadoff.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (17-19)
Sweeney CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Ross RF
Nava LF
Aviles SS
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-1, 8.31)

RAYS (23-14)
Zobrist RF
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Pena 1B
Scott DH
Rodriguez 3B
Rhymes 2B
Molina C
Johnson SS
Pitching: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (3-0, 2.95)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, ESPN / WRKO

Red Sox vs. Hellickson: Gonzalez 2-11, Ortiz 6-13, Pedroia 3-13, Salty 2-8, Aviles 1-3, Ross 0-3, Sweeney 1-2.

Rays vs. Buchholz: Scott 5-22, Pena 3-19, Zobrist 3-17, Upton 5-11, Joyce 2-7, Molina 4-8, Rodriguez 1-4, Rhymes 0-3, Keppinger 0-3, Gimenez 0-1.

Stat of the Day: Red Sox starters are 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in the last five games.

Notes: This is a rematch of April 14 when Buchholz beat Hellickson in a game the Sox won, 13-5, at Fenway Park. Buchholz went seven innings and allowed five earned runs. Hellickson went five innings and allowed five earned runs. ... Buchholz is 5-2, 2.38 in nine career starts against the Rays, 2-1, 2.23 in five starts at Tropicana Field. ... Hellickson is 2-1, 4.99 in six career appearances against the Sox. He is 2-0, 1.42 in four starts at the Trop this season. ... The Sox have won five straight and sit 5.5 games out of first. ... The Sox are 3-1 against the Rays this season and 8-8 on the road. ... Nava has hit in six straight at .533/.708/.1.000. He has reached base safely in 17 of 24 plate appearances. ... Middlebrooks (.300/.340/.640) has 14 RBIs in 12 games. ... This is the start of a three-city, eight-game road trip for the Sox. They play two against the Rays, three in Philadelphia and three in Baltimore.

Song of the Day: "Get Up, Stand Up" by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Wednesday: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-1, 8.31) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (3-0, 2.95), 7:10 p.m., NESN, ESPN

Thursday: LHP Felix Doubront (3-1, 4.46) vs. LHP Matt Moore (1-3, 5.31), 7:10 p.m., NESN, MLB Network

Globe Red Sox reporter Michael Vega offers his thoughts following the Red Sox' two-game sweep of a series vs. the Mariners at Fenway Park.

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

Who says Josh Beckett has lost a little off his fastball?

Despite reports based upon statistical studies detailing the decline of his velocity from 94.7 miles per hour his season year with the Red Sox in 2006 to 91.5 this season, Beckett proved he still had a little gas left in his tank by celebrating his 32d birthday with a 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners Tuesday at Fenway Park.

The object of much derision for playing golf, eating fried chicken and drinking beer, the defiant righthander seemed to work his way into the good graces of an angry Red Sox Nation – if only for a day – after he blanked the Mariners over seven innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out a season-high nine batters, six on fastballs that topped out at 93 m.p.h.

Beckett’s lights-out performance, which helped him improve to 3-4 and lower his earned run average to 4.97, came on the heels of Jon Lester’s complete-game victory Monday. It kept in line with a string of four consecutive command performances by the starting rotation, enabling the Sox (17-19) to wrap up this six-game home stand with a five-game winning streak.

On a day a crowd of 37,292 turned out in soggy conditions to honor former knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, Beckett had his best performance of the season. He was perfect for the first three innings, striking out six batters, including the side in the third. He allowed only one runner to reach third when Ichiro Suzuki reached on an infield single to short, then stole second and third.

Dustin Ackley broke up Beckett’s bid for perfection when he reached on an infield dribbler that eluded first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who attempted to make a backhanded flip with his glove to Beckett, who was covering the bag.

Beckett then struck out John Jaso before allowing Suzuki to reach on a single to center. He got out of the inning by inducing Jesus Montero to fly to left and Kyle Seager to ground to second.

David Ortiz, who went 2 for 3, with two runs, gave Beckett a 1-0 lead in the third when he belted a homer to right off Seattle starter Blake Beavan (1-4, 4.58).

The Sox tacked on two more against Beavan in the fourth when Cody Ross drew a walk with one out and went to third on Daniel Nava’s sharply-struck single to right. Mike Aviles, who went 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles, ripped an RBI double to center to score Ross, making it 2-0.

Ryan Sweeney came up and drove in Nava from third with his run-scoring ground out to second.

Ortiz scored a fourth run on the strangest of trips around the bases when he reached on a bunt single down the third-base line against an overshifted infield, reached second safely after Mariners shortstop Munenori Kawasaki came off the bag before making the force, and went to third on a wild pitch by reliever Charlie Furbush.

Will Middlebrooks scored Ortiz with his 14th RBI of the season on a single to left.

The Red Sox added a fifth run in the eight when Aviles doubled to left to score Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who reached on a leadoff double against Steve Delabar, the second of three Seattle relievers.

Top 9th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Alfredo Aceves pitched a perfect ninth, retiring Montero, Seager, and Smoak as the Red Sox improved to 17-19.

Bot 8th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Tom Wilhelmsen replaced Delabar on the mound for Seattle and was greeted by a double from Saltalamacchia. Ross then flied to right and Nava went down looking before Aviles made the Mariners' southpaw pay with a double to left to put the Sox up, 5-0.

Top 8th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0

Rich Hill replaced Beckett to start the eighth. Here's Beckett's line: 7 innings, 4H, 2BB, 9K. He was perfect through the first three innings before allowing an infield single to Ackley to lead off the fourth. Beckett threw 93 pitches, 60 for strikes.

Hill sent the Mariners down 1-2-3. Ackley flied to right, Jaso grounded to second, and Ichiro grounded to first.

Bot 7th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0

Seattle is on its third pitcher. Here's the line for Beavan: 4IP, 5H, 3R (all earned), 2BB, 4K. Charlie Ferbush relieved Beavan and tossed two innings of three-hit, one-run ball. Steve Delabar was able to quiet the Sox in the seventh.

Pedroia flied to right and Ortiz walked before Belabar K'd Gonzalez and Middlebrooks to get out of the inning.

Top 7th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0

Another relatively quick inning for Beckett. Smoak flied to right and Carp lined to Gonzalez at first before Michael Saunders singled to give the Mariners their fourth hit. Kawasaki grounded to second to end the inning.

Bot 6th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0

Sorry for the delay, the Red Sox have scored in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings. Ortiz got things started with his eighth home run of the season in the third inning. Ross walked and scored on Nava's RBI double in the fourth and Nava later scored on an Aviles single to put the Sox ahead, 3-0, after four.

Ortiz made one of the stranger trips on and around the bases you will ever see for the fourth run of the game. The Boston slugger led the inning off with a bunt single down the third base line. He then advanced to second when Seattle failed to turn a double play. After a wild pitch moved Ortiz to third, he came into score on a Middlebrooks single.

Beckett has been lights out today, through six innings he's allowed just three hits and struck out nine.

Note to readers: Our apologies for getting this post up and running so late, but technical difficulties prevented it from publishing. They should be resolved now, and updates will continue from here on out. Thanks for sticking with us.

Bot 2nd: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

Once again the Sox put two runners on but were unable to score. Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off with a sharp single up the middle. Cody Ross then went down swinging before Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch. Nava has now reached base in 16 of 21 plate appearances this season. Aviles fouled to first and Sweeney struck out to end the threat.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

Beckett, pitching on his 32d birthday, continued to roll in the second. Former Yankee Jesus Montero began the inning by striking out looking. Kyle Seager was then robbed of a single up the middle by Mike Aviles, who made a nice diving play and a strong throw to get the Mariner's third baseman by a step. Justin Smoak almost spoiled the party with a deep fly to right, but the ball landed just foul. Smoak then became strikeout No. 1,043 for Beckett in a Sox uniform, tying him for sixth all-time with Bruce Hurst.

It's begun to rain a bit here at Fenway, but that doesn't appear to be bothering Beckett, whose fastball has been consistently around 93 miles per hour.

Bot 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

After Sweeney led off with a fly out to left, Dustin Pedroia wasted no time starting his next hitting streak, reaching on an infield single to third base. Pedrioa had been on 14-game streak before going 0 for 3 Monday night. Ichiro then made a nice sliding catch to rob David Ortiz of a bloop single. Blake Beavan walked Adrain Gonzalez, but made it out of the inning when Will Middlebrooks grounded into a fielder's choice.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

Beckett set the Mariners down in order in the first. Dustin Ackley went down swinging on a cutter high and away. John Jaso lined to Cody Ross in right and Ichiro followed with a fly out to Ryan Sweeney in center. Eight pitches, seven for strikes for Beckett.

Hit play to hear the latest installment of the Globe Red Sox podcast, produced by Daigo Fujiwara.

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Bill Greene/Globe Staff

By Seth Lakso, Globe Correspondent

The Red Sox honored former pitcher Tim Wakefield before they played the Mariners on Tuesday at Fenway Park.

Former teammates -- including Mike Timlin and Mike Stanley -- along with relatives and friends of the recently retired knuckleballer turned out for “Thanks, Wake” Day.

NESN’s Don Orsillo was the emcee for the event, which featured a heartfelt speech by the Red Sox’s David Ortiz, and a touching moment when members of Tim Wakefield’s charity, Wakefield’s Warriors, emerged from center field and surrounded an emotional Wakefield.

Wakefield then gave a speech:

“I have to thank the Red Sox organization for giving me the best 17 years of my life. I have to thank my teammates, the former ones that I played with. You guys have always had my back and I’ll have yours forever. Thank you for your support. Last but not least the fans, like I said in February, every time I took this mound I gave everything I had and every time I walked off you guys always gave me a standing ovation and I will cherish the memories that we shared together from ’04-’07 and all the 17 years in between. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you guys and thanks for being here today.”

Orsillo announced to the crowd that Doug Mirabelli, who was scheduled to catch the game’s first pitch, wasn’t going to make it because his flight was delayed. It didn’t take long for the Sox faithful to catch on to Orsillo’s joke, as Mirabelli emerged from center field in a Boston police car, to the delight of the crowd.

Mirabelli famously arrived in a Massachusetts State Police car in May of 2006 after the Red Sox had reacquired the catcher to be Wakefield's personal catcher because Josh Bard had trouble catching Wakefield's knuckleballs. Mirabelli was delayed in transit the day the Sox traded for him, but he was needed because Wakefield was scheduled to start that day.

After Mirabellli's arrival on Tuesday, Wakefield then threw what may be his last pitch at Fenway Park, and his son and daughter shouted, “Play Ball!”

Prior to the game the Red Sox compiled several statements from former friends and teammates of Wakefield and distributed them to the press.

Here's a few of the highlights:

Terry Francona:

"I think Wake's career can be embodied by game three against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. With the team down, he came to me in the fourth inning and asked what he could do. He pitched more than three innings in that game, sacrificing his start the next day for the good of the team. A lot of what he did when under the radar. I wish him congratulations on a wonderful career and hope his second career is as good as his first."

Jason Varitek:

"There is so much to say about Wake. He has been a part of so many things and he's meant so much to the game, the organization, the community, and personally as a friend and teammate for 14 years. He is a consummate professional with a one-of-a-kind talent that allowed his team flexibility, dependability, and endurance for 17 years. His competitiveness will be missed but his legacy and friendship will last a lifetime. It's sad to see it end but this will be an exciting new chapter for him in his life."

Nomar Garciaparra:

"It's truly been an honor to play with him for so many years. Every game he gave it his all, supported his teammates, and his professionalism was second to none. For me to play with him was an honor, but it's even a better honor to know him as a friend."

Mike Andrews, Dana-Farber Trustee and Former Chairman of the Jimmy Fund:

"To me, Tim is everything a professional athlete should be. He handled himself in such a professional way as far as his baseball career goes and he has done what i would hope and what most people would hope professional athletes would do off the field in his charitable endeavors. We he did for the Jimmy Fund is second to none. He is beloved by so many kids and adults alike at the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It's awesome what he did for the kids. I know he will be successful in whatever he chooses to do going forward."

Prior to the ceremony, current Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine shared his thoughts on whether he believes baseball will ever see another knuckleballer be as successful and valuable to his team as Wake was for the Red Sox.

"[For anyone to ever be] as good as Tim would be very tough," said Valentine. "He was a real valuable type of pitcher. He was a great 'go-to' guy. A couple hundred wins, there's no diminishing the value of being out there when your team wins 200 times, extremely impressive."

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Kevin Youkilis, on the disabled list with a lower back strain since May 2, would make a rehab start as the designated hitter for Triple A Pawtucket Wednesday in Durham, N.C.

"We're trying to get him at least three at-bats [Wednesday] as a DH,'' Valentine said before Tuesday afternoon's game against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. "He looked really good taking ground balls today, moving around, a bounce in his step.

"So he'll start tomorrow,'' Valentine said, "and we'll get him enough [work], whatever it's going to have him say that he feels good.''

Once Youkilis makes that determination, the Red Sox will face a bit of a dilemma in deciding what to do with rookie phenom Will Middlebrooks, considered the third baseman of the future, who has hit .304 since his call-up from Triple A Pawtucket May 2. Middlebrooks has hit safely in nine of his first 10 Major League starts and tied for the AL rookie lead with 5 doubles and third with 4 homers and 13 RBI.

For now, though, the plan is to have Middlebrooks hold down the third base position while Youkilis continues to rehab.

"He'll go from DH to playing in the field, and seeing some pitches,'' Valentine said of Youkilis.

In other pregame matters:

* Felix Doubront gave the team a bit of a scare during pregame warmups when he was struck on the head by a fly ball while he was playing catch in the outfield. Doubront said he was OK after getting hit on the back of his right ear.

"Whenever anybody comes off the field, you hold your breath,'' Valentine said. "But he tested fine, he knows where he is, he knows where he's going ... I think it just hit his ear and he's going to be just fine''

* With an upcoming three-game interleague set looming in Philadelphia, the Sox began making preparations in earnest, with David Ortiz taking grounders at first and Adrian Gonzalez shagging flies in right field. "I think David could play first base,'' Valentine said. "And Adrian looks all right in the outfield, too. But I think David could play first base ... so does Dustin [Pedroia], so does Adrian, and so does David, and that's what's more important.''

Valentine said the pitching staff had been taking swings in the batting cage in preparation for interleague play. "Dave [Magadan] and Bob [McClure] worked out a program in the cage, so it was a progression of soft toss to tee to BP in the cage to BP outside.''

* Valentine was asked if there was any concern about Beckett trying to do too much, given that today's start comes on his 32d birthday. "I think guys always like to perform well on their birthday,'' Valentine said. "When you're the kind of pro that Josh is, I'm just happy he has the ball. If he can pitch more than once every five days, I'd be happy to give him that. I think he's ready to go.''

Here are Tuesday's lineups:

RED SOX (16-19)
Sweeney CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Ross RF
Nava LF
Aviles SS
Pitching: Josh Beckett (2-4, 5.97)

MARINERS (16-21)
Ackley 2B
Jaso C
Suzuki RF
Montero DH
Seager 3B
Smoak 1B
Carp LF
Saunders CF
Kawasaki SS
Pitching: Blake Beavan (1-3, 4.32)

Game time: 4:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Mariners vs. Beckett: Ackley 3-6, Carp 2-5, Figgins 8-26, Jaso 0-6, Ryan 1-4, Saunders 1-2, Smoak 0-5, Suzuki 7-30, Wells 1-2, Kawasaki 0-0, Liddi 0-0, Montero 0-0, Seager 0-0.

Red Sox vs. Beavan: Aviles 1-2, Byrd 0-0, Gonzalez 3-6, Middlebrooks 0-0, Nava 0-0, Ortiz 3-7, Pedroia 2-6, Punto 0-0, Ross 0-0, Saltalamacchia 2-3, Shoppach 0-0, Sweeney 0-6.

Stat of the Day: Daniel Nava has reached base safely in 15 of 20 plate appearances in his five games with the Red Sox this season. He has a hit in each game.

Notes: Today is Beckett's 32d birthday. He will look to rebound from a horrendous last outing in which he was booed as he left the field after being relieved in the third inning ... Dustin Pedroia had his hit streak end at 14 games last night ... Former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield will be honored with "Thanks, Wake," day at Fenway Park. Pregame ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (Check out a photo gallery of Wakefield's career highlights) ... Beavan was pushed back two days from his regular spot in the rotation because he was hit by a ball batted by Detroit's Miguel Cabrera on May 7.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

Good morning from Logan Airport, which is named after General Edward Lawrence Logan, an officer in the Spanish-American War and World War I who was from South Boston.

According to his Wikipedia entry, he had nothing to do with aviation. Go figure.

Anyway, we're headed to Tampa, Philadelphia and Baltimore for a planes, trains and automobiles trip that will encompass three cities and eight games in eight days. With the Sox finally playing reasonably well, it should be interesting.

The Sox have a game at Fenway Park this afternoon with fan favorite Josh Beckett taking on the Mariners. It's also Tim Wakefield Day.

(A random Tuesday day game against Seattle is Tim Wakefield Day? Is the International Society of Knuckleballers having a meeting in Boston today or something?)

Went to the game on Sunday with my parents and my niece, who is 11. I searched in vain to try and buy her a Will Middlebrooks t-shirt. She settled for a Dustin Pedroia shirt.

There needs to be a section with Aceves, Padilla, Ross and Salty and those kind of guys, no? I'd totally want my kid to have a Padilla shirt. Nobody would mess with them at school.

It was fun sitting in the stands for a change. It was a beautiful day for a game, the Sox scored a bunch of runs and I tried to show my niece how to score the game. All in all, a great time.

I'm taking my 7-year-old nephew in August. His favorite player is Dusty Brown, who we saw at a PawSox game a few years ago. Sadly, Dusty is now with Triple A Round Rock in the Texas organization. I'm hoping he picks a new favorite player soon.

OK, time to board the plane and give a halfhearted effort to read a book before falling asleep. My colleagues will have plenty more on the blog later today on the game and I'll have you covered from Tampa tomorrow.

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

Their confidence brimming after Jon Lester's complete-game effort in a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners Monday night at Fenway Park, the Red Sox will now turn their wary eyes toward Josh Beckett.

It will be up to Beckett, the recalcitrant righthander who after absorbing an 8-3 loss against the Indians in his most recent outing managed to cast himself as the most reviled sports figure in Boston for his unapologetic stance on his off-day golf outing, to make it five in a row for the Red Sox in Tuesday's game against the Mariners.

Coincidentally, it will coincide with a pregame ceremony recognizing Tim Wakefield, the recently retired knuckleballer who ranks as the one of the most beloved Boston hurlers in team history.

"I think when you watch the other guys, as a staff, we’re pretty prideful in what we try to do,’’ said Lester, who didn't allow a hit against the Mariners until Ichiro Suzuki's two-out single in the fourth.

Lester wound up holding the Mariners scoreless through eight innings, and didn't allow a ball out of the infield until a flyout to right for the second out in the fifth inning. Suzuki spoiled Lester's bid for his third career shutout in the ninth inning when he led off with a single, went to third on Justin Smoak's double, and scored on Kyle Seager's ground out to second.

The offense provided ample support, scoring two runs in the first inning.
Dustin Pedroia, who had his 14-game hitting streak snapped, drew a lead-off walk from Seattle lefthander Jason Vargas (4-3, 3.28 ERA) to spark the one-out rally.

David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to left off Vargas, giving the Sox a 2-0 lead.

The Sox came back in the bottom of the fourth and tagged Vargas for three more runs on three hits, including homers by left fielder Daniel Nava and catcher Kelly Shoppach.

Nava, who reached on all four plate appearances in Sunday’s 12-1 romp over the Indians, hit a high fly that just made it to the Green Monster seats, extending Boston’s lead to 4-0. It snapped a streak of 171 at-bats between his memorable grand slam in his first major league at-bat (on his first pitch, no less) and his second career homer.

"I didn’t think it was gone," Nava said. "Knowing how big the wall is and seeing some other balls that guys have hit, I didn’t think it compared to a [Will] Middlebrooks bomb, or the one Shop hit later. I thought it was going to go off the wall, but I was surprised that it barely squeaked over.

"But I’ll take it, I’m not going to complain."

After Marlon Byrd flew out to center, Shoppach took Vargas deep to left, clearing the wall with a mammoth solo homer that made it 5-0. "Occassionally, I’ll bump into ‘em," Shoppach said.

The three runs provided Lester with all the support he would need. He gave up only five hits while recording one strikeout.

"I wasn’t coming out of that game unless we scored 10," Lester said. "For me, it was my game, and Bobby [Valentine] was going to have to fight me for the ball if he came to the end of the dugout."

It marked Lester's eighth career complete game and second of the season after going eight innings in a 3-1 loss at Toronto April 11. Lester's last nine-inning complete game came June 27, 2010, at San Francisco.

It also was the third straight game Red Sox starters gave up 1 run or fewer -- the first time that has happened since April 16-18, 2011.

"When you start seeing guys succeed and making pitches and getting out of jams, and the offense comes in and picks our guys up if we give up a run and scores another run, that confidence just keeps building," Lester said. "And you feel like if I buy into what we’re doing the next few pitches, everything will take care of itself.

"I think that’s been our mindset the last four nights."

It will have to be Beckett's mindset if he intends to keep pace with the rest of the staff.

Game over

Jon Lester pitched a complete game but lost the shutout in the 9th inning. He surrendered a lead-off single to Ichiro and a one-out double to Justin Smoak. Kyle Seager got the run across with a grounder to second base. The game was played in 2:25 before 37,334. Lester threw 119 pitches and allowed 8 hits, 1 run, no walks and struck out 6. It was his 8th career complete game and his second of the season.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 6, Mariners 0

Will Middlebrooks singled and Cody Ross doubled high atop the wall to put runners at second and third and one out. After Daniel Nava was walked intentionally to load the bases, Marlon Byrd hit a sacrifice fly scoring Middlebrooks.

Top 8th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Another superb inning for Lester, who is pitching the best game of his season so far.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

The Red Sox haven't been able to add to their lead over the last three innings as they go down in order again.

Top 7th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Lester allowed three hits in the inning, but a double-play liner by Kyle Seager helped
Lester preserve the shutout bid.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

A Daniel Nava walk was all she wrote.

Top 6th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Lester allowed singles to Michael Saunders and Dustin Ackley, but did not break as he got Ichiro to ground out into a force at second to end the threat.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Sox 3,4,5 hitters went down in order.

Top 5th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Lester got the M's to hit it in the air. One pop up and two fly ball outs.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Sox smacked two homers - a two-run shot by Daniel Nava with Cody Ross (single) aboard, and a solo homer by Kelly Shoppach,

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

Lester retired 11 straight before Ichiro reached on an infield hit that bounced off Lester and the mound and which Middlebrooks couldn't make a play on.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

The Sox managed a two-out walk By Adrian Gonzalez, but Will Middlebrooks struck out to end the inning.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

Lester makes it nine in a row retiring the bottom of the M's lineup.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

Marlon Byrd reached on an infield hit to second base, but was thjrown out trying to steal. Kelly Shoppach reached on an infield hit, but Mike Aviles grounded out back to the pitcher to end the inning.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

Lester again throws two ground ball outs and strikes out Justin Smoak. Very sharp so far.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

The Sox touched up Jason Vargas for a pair of runs. David ortiz, who continues to rake against lefthanded pitchers, doubled in Dustin Pedroia. Ortiz scored on Adrian Gonzalez' double to left.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

Jon Lester struck out leadoff hitter Dustin Ackley and then retired Casper Wells and Ichiro on ground outs. Not raining right now. Game time temp was 56 degrees. Another late-arriving crowd.

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

The Red Sox might be facing a dilemma with rookie Will Middlebrooks once veteran third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who has been on the disabled list since May 2 with a lower back strain, returns.

"I think it’s a little premature, but we’ll do exactly what’s right,'' said Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. "Those things usually play themselves out, but there’s no need to make a decision until it’s time to make a decision."

Although Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington is on record as saying that no player loses his job to injury, Middlelbroooks has made it difficult for the Sox to send him back to Triple A Pawtucket. He is hitting .310 with four home runs and 13 RBIs since making his major league debut May 2.

Youkilis continued his rehab work, taking ground balls and swings in the batting cage.

"He looked pretty good taking ground balls today, I wouldn't think he's very far away,'' Valentine said of Youkilis. "He took 10 swings on the soft toss and 30 dry swings and hit some balls today. He looked really good moving around."

Asked if he anticipated having Youkilis for the road trip to Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, Valentine replied, "I would have no idea. Whenever the medical [staff] and Kevin say he's ready .... but, in my eyes, taking some ground balls, he looked good fielding and throwing.''

Although he was not prepared to divulge what the plans are for Middlebrooks once Youkilis can play, Valentine said it was highly unlikely Middlebrooks would remain with the big club just to ride the bench.

"Sitting on the bench is not a place for very many players, especially good young talented players,'' Valentine said. "What would be the purpose of having someone sit on the bench, unless there was a useful purpose not being in the starting role and being able to contribute to the team's wins. Now is there a place for him to do that? I'm not sure.''

In other matters:

* Although he was transferred to the 60-day diabled list Sunday to make room for Pawtucket first baseman Mauro Gomez, Jacoby Ellsbury continued to make progress in his recovery from a right shoulder subluxation suffered in the home opener April 13.

"He looked good in the weight room and he looks good in the training room, now I haven’t seen him in the Field of Dreams out there where it’s all green and he looks so natural,'' Valentine said. ``He hasn’t had any setbacks and he has almost full range of motion and his strength is building, so it’s all good. His agility and his cardio, he’s worked really hard on those things with his legs.''

Asked if Ellsbury's healing process has ruled out surgery, Valentine said, ``I'd be surprised. I've never had that conversation with anyone – asking it or hearing it, from the training room or from Jacoby.''

* Asked about the recent performance of the bullpen, which has led the Majors since April 23 with a 1.41 ERA in 76.2 innings, Valentine said, "I have great confidence in my players and what I try to do is put them in situations where where they can succeed in and it seems like the situations are expanding for most of the guys.

"They’re not being limited by a platoon situation or by runners on base, or even some history guys have had with some hitters that they’re facing,'' Valentine said. "It seems like they’re trying to bust right through any barriers, and that’s a good thing."

Asked if there were any surprises in the bullpen, Valentine cited Vicente Padilla, who has not allowed any of his 11 inherited runners to score, and Alfredo Aceves, who continues his adjustment as the team's closer.

"I think Padilla’s been a surprise, because there wasn’t a lot of history,'' Valentine said. "Aceves has got to be a bit of a surprise – at the end of the game – for the same reason, but I thought they could do it, but it’s been a bit of a surprise."

* Valentine celebrated his 62d birthday Sunday. Asked how he spent it, the manager replied: "I did it with a lot of friends, isn’t that what you do? Eat dinner, drink some wine, cut the cake, tell some lies. The North End treated me well.''

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (15-19)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Ross RF
Nava LF
Byrd CF
Shoppach C
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (1-3, 4.29)

MARINERS (16-20)
Ackley DH
Wells LF
Suzuki RF
Montero C
Smoak 1B
Seager 2B
Liddi 3B
Saunders CF
Ryan SS
Pitching: LHP Jason Vargas (4-2, 2.79)

TV/Radio: NESN / WRKO (680)

Mariners vs. Lester: Chone Figgins 5-15, Jesus Montero 2-5, Brendan Ryan 2-3, Michael Saunders 2-3, Justin Smoak 0-3, Ichiro Suzuki 6-25, Casper Wells 0-4.

Red Sox vs Vargas: Mike Aviles 1-3, Marlon Byrd 4-14, Adrian Gonzalez 3-9, David Ortiz 2-6, Dustin Pedroia 1-6, Nick Punto 0-1, Jarrod Saltalamacchia 0-2, Kelly Shoppach 2-6.

Stat of the Day: Sunday marked the ninth time this season the Red Sox scored 10 or more runs, the most in the majors and the franchise's most ever through the first 34 games. The Red Sox are just the second team in the last 81 years to score 10-plus runs in nine of its first 34 games, joining the 1997 Colorado Rockies.

Notes: With a homer and two RBIs Sunday, Will Middlebrooks became the third player to total at least four home runs and 13 RBI over his first 10 big-league games. The others are the Royals' Mark Quinn in September 1999 (5 HRs, 15 RBIs) and the Mariners' Alvin Davis in April 1984 (4 HRs, 13 RBIs). ... Dustin Pedroia singled in the seventh inning Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, during which he is batting .350 (21 for 60) with 8 doubles, 2 homers, 11 RBI, 11 runs, 8 walks and 2 stolen bases. It is the longest active hitting streak in the majors ... The Consul General of Japan will present the Red Sox with a cherry tree during a pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park before the Sox take on the Seattle Mariners. The presentation is part of the Greater Boston-Japan Cherry Blossom Festival marking the 100th anniversary of Japan's original gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, to Washington in 1912.

Monday: LHP Jason Vargas (4-2, 2.79) vs. LHP Jon Lester (1-3, 4.29), 7:10 p.m., NESN

Tuesday: RHP Blake Beavan (1-3, 4.32) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (2-4, 5.97), 4:05 p.m., NESN

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

A walk in the park?

Tied for the third-worst home record in the majors (6-11), nothing seemed to come easy for the Red Sox at Fenway Park. But the Sox shed that stigma ( at least for a day) with a 12-1 romp over the Cleveland Indians that enabled them to improve to 15-19 with their third consecutive home win.

The Sox had won just three times in their previous 14 games before this three-game streak.

The Red Sox scored 12 runs on 12 hits, seven for extra-bases including a solo homer by Will Middlebrooks and a two-run blast by Jarrod Saltamacchia. They got solid pitching from righthander Daniel Bard, who went 6.1 innings and allowed one run on six hits and four walks and two strikeouts.

``It’s very encouraging, especially at home because there were some questions after Game 1 that we’d never play well at home again,'' said manager Bobby Valentine, who celebrated his 62d birthday Sunday. ``And it was a mental state that we couldn’t break through.

``When you see the guys in the clubhouse, there’s a good thing forming and that’s good,'' Valentine said. ``I think we had a good thing most of the year, it was just frustrating because we’d get so close and it would slip away.

"Now we’re just banging the door down and we’re not leaving the door open the last couple of games.''

Bard, 3-4 on the season, lowered his earned run average to 4.30 after the Sox spotted him a 4-0 lead in the first against Cleveland starter Justin Masterson (1-3, 5.40 ERA). Masterson faced nine batters in the first and gave up four runs on four hits, one walk, and hit one batsmen

``You know when you score four runs with two outs and nobody on in the first inning,’’ Valentine said. ``And it’s started off with a walk in a patient at-bat from your third-place hitter [David Ortiz], things are going your way.’’

Bard struggled in the third and loaded the bases with one out on back-to-back walks to Jack Hannahan and Johnny Damon and a single to left by Jason Kipnis. Bard then walked in Cleveland’s only run when he issued a free pass to Asdrubal Cabrera.

``Third inning wasn’t pretty,’’ Bard said. ``Just one of those things – a couple of long sits you lose a feel for the release point on the fastball and it’s happened to me before. It’s just a matter of grinding through and finding something you can throw for a strike and for me it was the off speed stuff.’’

Bard was also bolstered by some terrific defensive play, particularly in the third when Dustin Pedroia fielded a weak grounder from designated hitter Travis Hafner and flipped it to shortstop Mike Aviles, who turned the double play.

After fielding Casey Kotchman’s fly in the fourth with one out and two on in scoring position, Cody Ross made a strong throw from right that kept Carlos Santana pinned at third.

Then Aviles bailed Bard out of the fifth when he made a leaping stab of Cabrera’s hard line shot and doubled off Kipnis at first to end the inning.

``The defense was really good behind me all day,’’ Bard said. ``Pedey not trying to tag the guy and flipping it the normal way to get the double play was big. Aviles catching the line drive and doubling the guy off, and Cody making the throw from the outfield.

``Those things really helped me out a lot.’’

The 11-run margin of victory resulted in the Red Sox most lopsided victory of 2012 and biggest since an 18-6 victory over Toronto since Sept. 13, 2011.

A walk in the park, indeed.

Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner and president Larry Lucchino presented Derek Lowe with a 2004 championship ring before Saturday’s game after his was stolen from his home in Fort Myers, Fla., last week.

"You know me, I can talk," Lowe told the Cleveland Plain dealer. "But it was one of those moments where I didn't even know what to say. It wasn't like they just sent over a bat boy or sent it over. All three of them came over to give it to me. They said some really nice things."

Lowe, who went 3-0 in the ’04 postseason including wins in clinching games in the ALCS and World Series, amassed 81 saves and went 70-53 with the Red Sox. He's currently 5-1 with the Indians.

"I just thought it was one of the classiest things I've seen," Lowe told the newspaper before Sunday's game. "The traveling secretary called over to our clubhouse and said, "Hey, someone is going to stop by and wants to give you something.'"

“They didn't have to do that at all," said Lowe. "I just don't want it to go unnoticed. I knew there was an opportunity for me to buy another one, but to have all three of them there when they gave it to me really meant a lot.

"It's something I'll never forget. It almost means more this time because it was a selfless act on their part. I just want people to know they did this."

Lowe got a nice ovation from the crowd when they showed him on the video board.