CLEVELAND (AP) -First baseman Kevin Youkilis and right fielder J.D. Drew were out of the Boston Red Sox lineup for Wednesday night’s game against the Cleveland Indians.
Neither injury is considered serious.
Youkilis, whose .405 average at the start of Wednesday led all of baseball, was hit in the back by a pitch from Anthony Reyes in the first inning of Tuesday night’s 9-8 loss to the Indians. He remained in the game, but was still experiencing soreness Wednesday. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Jeff Bailey.
Drew was limited to pinch-hitting duties Monday because of tightness in his left quadriceps, but played the entire game Tuesday. He was replaced Wednesday by Jonathan Van Every.
“J.D. felt it late in the game when he came in on a ball,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “This is more a precaution. I don’t want to undo something for a month because you’re greedy in April.”
Drew is 0-for-4 in regular-season games against the Indians’ Fausto Carmona, Wednesday night’s starter, but his grand slam off Carmona in Game 6 of the 2007 ALCS keyed Boston’s victory.
ugo, who played in his first game of the season Tuesday night, was back on the bench Wednesday. Lugo, who had surgery on his right knee in March, was removed in the eighth inning Tuesday because of stiffness in the knee. Rookie Nick Green started at shortstop Wednesday and batted ninth.
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