Kevin Youkilis Returns to Lineup, Jason Varitek to Start Behind the Plate as Sox Face Ervin Santana, Angels

After fouling a ball off his left shin and leaving Thursday’s game, Kevin Youkilis was forced to miss his first game of the season on Friday. He will be back in the lineup on Saturday, though, as the Sox take on Ervin Santana and the Angels in the third game of a four-game set.

Jacoby Ellsbury will lead off for the Sox once again, despite only four hits in his last 22 at-bats. He was 1-for-4 on Friday with an RBI and a run scored.

Jason Varitek will start get the call behind the plate. Jarrod Saltalamacchia appeared to limp into second base on a third inning double on Friday, but he stayed in for the rest of the game.

Carl Crawford, who has bounced around the Sox lineup all season, will hit eighth for the first time. It’s the fifth different spot in the lineup that he has hit in.

Jed Lowrie, who continues to swing a hot bat, will start at shortstop in place of Marco Scutaro. Lowrie is hitting .426 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 47 at-bats so far this season.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will take to the hill for the Sox. Here is the complete batting order, followed by the Angels’ lineup:

Red Sox

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Jed Lowrie, SS
J.D. Drew, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Jason Varitek, C

Angels

Maicer Izturis, 2B
Erick Aybar, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Torii Hunter, DH
Vernon Wells, CF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Hank Conger, C
Mark Trumbo, 1B
Reggie Willits, LF