Last Updated on September 22, 2007 5:00 pm by admin
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis is not expected to return from a bruised right wrist until after the Red Sox begin their regular season-ending homestand Tuesday.
Youkilis, hit on the wrist by a pitched ball September 15, was out of the lineup for the sixth straight game Saturday. He underwent an MRI exam, which was negative.
“He won’t play tomorrow,” Boston manager Terry Francona said before Saturday night’s against Tampa Bay. “He has swelling in those joints, the smaller joints, it’s still there. Got to get that out of there.”
Left fielder Manny Ramirez was out of the lineup for the 23rd consecutive game due to a strained left oblique muscle. Ramirez, who has been taking batting practice, felt discomfort in his side during a running session Friday.
“He ran, but he still feels it running,” Francona said. “We’re still on hold.”
Francona said catcher Doug Mirabelli, who strained his left hamstring on September 6, is scheduled to be behind the plate for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield’s start Sunday.