News
Sox hope Youkilis can spark offense
Boston (66-51) at Toronto (55-61), 7:07 p.m. ET
By Daniel Paulling / MLB.com
08/16/09 6:22 PM ET
ARLINGTON -- Kevin Youkilis will rejoin the Red Sox's lineup on Tuesday, the first day he is eligible to return after serving a five-game suspension. His bat will be welcome, with several big series looming for the Red Sox. "It'll be very nice to have him back," manager Terry Francona said. Youkilis was suspended for charging the mound and throwing his helmet at Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello after Youkilis was hit by a pitch on Tuesday. Youkilis began serving his suspension on Wednesday. Youkilis decided not to appeal his suspension, which forced him to miss the entirety of the Red Sox's series against the Rangers, a team Boston led by just 1 1/2 games in the American League Wild Card race when the series began on Friday. Boston now sits in second place, a half-game behind Texas. The Red Sox thought about having Youkilis appeal, but ultimately chose not to do so because of the challenging schedule ahead of them. "Certainly, we gave everything thought," Francona said. "But when we leave [Arlington], we have some games that are important, too." The Red Sox play three games in Toronto beginning on Tuesday and then go home for a big series against the Yankees, whom they trail by 7 1/2 games in the AL East. Youkilis was hitting .311 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs at the time of his suspension. Pitching matchupBOS: RHP Josh Beckett (14-4, 3.10 ERA)
Beckett became baseball's first 14-game winner on Wednesday, yielding two runs on three hits in an 8-2 Red Sox victory over the Tigers at Fenway Park. Boston's ace has limited opponents to three runs or fewer in 15 of his past 18 starts, going 12-2 with a 2.17 ERA and a 114:26 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that stretch. In four career appearances at Rogers Centre, Beckett is 1-2 with a 6.85 ERA. TOR: LHP Ricky Romero (10-5, 3.70 ERA)
On Wednesday, Romero took a no-decision on the road against the Yankees after allowing three runs on four hits over six innings. The young lefty finished with five strikeouts and three walks in the 109-pitch effort. In his past two starts, Romero has gone 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA. The rookie had gone 7-1 with a 3.41 ERA in his previous 10 outings. This year against the Red Sox, Romero has gone 0-2, surrendering nine runs over 8 1/3 innings across two starts. Tidbits
Third baseman Mike Lowell has played in 1,499 career games, one short of becoming the 43rd active player to reach the 1,500 mark. ... Catcher George Kottaras, on the disabled list since Aug. 1 (retroactive to July 30) with a lower back strain, made his first rehab start on Saturday. He went 0-for-1 with two walks and a strikeout in five innings with Triple-A Pawtucket. ... Jason Bay hit his 25th home run of the season on Saturday, becoming the seventh left fielder in Red Sox history to reach that figure. The others are Ted Williams (13 times), Jim Rice (six times), Manny Ramirez (five times), Carl Yastremski (three times), Troy O'Leary (once) and Babe Ruth (once). Bay's 169 home runs since the beginning of the 2004 season ranks fifth among outfielders over that span. ... Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is playing with Jed Lowrie's batting gloves and mitt after his gloves got lost in shipment. At last notice, they were somewhere in Tennessee. His bats, however, arrived safely before Saturday's game, his first with the Red Sox. Tickets
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• Wednesday: Red Sox (Clay Buchholz, 1-3, 4.45) at Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 13-5, 2.65), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Red Sox (Jon Lester, 9-7, 3.71) at Blue Jays (Brett Cecil, 5-1, 4.35), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Friday: Red Sox (Brad Penny, 7-7, 5.22) vs. Yankees (Andy Pettitte, 9-6, 4.09), 7:10 p.m. ET
Daniel Paulling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
