Youkilis Injured As Rays Beat Red Sox

By Justin Worsley

As if things couldn't get worse for Boston, the team has now lost their power hitter.

In a freak accident, first baseman Kevin Youkilis injured his ankle while setting his feet up in the batters box in the top of the fourth inning. Youkilis would immediately leave and be replaced by second-year player Niuman Romero.

The Tampa Bay Rays used the loss of Youkilis to their advantage in their narrow 3-2 victory against Boston. Romero, who was forced to bat clean-up in Youkilis' place, hit immediately after Boston's other power hitter, designated hitter David Ortiz. Tampa Bay intentionally walked Ortiz in his three plate appearances after Youkilis left the game, rendering him useless from making any extra-base hits.

Tampa Bay struck first blood in the bottom of the third inning after catcher John Jaso stole second base following a wild pitch by Felix Doubront. Shortstop Jason Bartlett immediately brought Jaso home, hitting a line drive off a 2-2 pitch just out of Marco Scutaro's reach.

Boston came marching back in the top of the fourth inning with two outs. Right fielder J.D. Drew hit a grounder to third baseman Evan Longoria who made an errant throw to first base, far from Carlos Pena's reach. The ball would bounce into the stands, which by ground rules gives the runner an extra base. Left fielder Daniel Nava hit a hard ground-ball towards second base. Sean Rodriguez was not able to immediately handle the ball and his throw came too late as Drew hastily crossed home plate.

Tampa would score again in the fifth-inning after Rodriguez hit lead-off triple on a fastball pitch by Doubront over center fielder Eric Patterson's head. Rodriguez crossed home plate when Jaso hit a sacrifice ground-ball to Scutaro.

The Rays sealed the game in the eighth inning when Carl Crawford launched a solo home run off a 2-1 fastball by Hideki Okajima. Crawford was the first batter Okajima faced.

Boston would rally in the ninth inning after Patterson hit an RBI triple to left center field, however closer Rafael Soriano took over, giving Ortiz his third intentional walk and forcing Romero to ground out with a man on first and third to end the game.

An injured Red Sox roster forced them to send 22-year-old Doubront (1-1) to the mound against Tampa's Jeff Niemann (7-2) Niemann threw six innings, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out five and allowing one earned run. Doubront threw 5 2/3 innings allowing five hits and two earned runs while walking four and striking out three.

Tampa Bay (50-33) continues to keep Boston (49-35) away from second place in the division, and away from the Wild Card race. The Rays have already won the three-game series against Boston, which wraps up tomorrow as Tim Wakefield (3-6) hopes to salvage the series for Boston as they face Tampa's ace David Price (11-4.)