Youkilis had started 14 straight games. He appeared to get hit on the left hand while batting late in the Red Sox' 5-1 win Friday night, although home plate umpire Tim Timmons ruled that the ball hit the knob of the bat. After a visit with the trainer and an argument with Timmons, Youkilis struck out.
Youkilis is also just 1-for-9 with four strikeouts against Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow and it is a day game after a night game, so there are a multitude of reasons to give the regular third baseman a day off.
Jed Lowrie takes Youkilis's spot at third base and bats fifth. It is the seventh time Lowrie has started at the position this year, and the first time he has played it at all in nearly one month.
Several other Red Sox starters have had better success than Youkilis vs. Morrow. Jacoby Ellsbury has a home run in four encounters, while Dustin Pedroia is 4-for-8 with a home run and two doubles. David Ortiz is 4-for-7 with a homer, a double and two walks.
With John Lackey on the mound, here is the batting order against Morrow, followed by that of the Blue Jays:
Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Jed Lowrie, 3B
Carl Crawford, LF
Marco Scutaro, SS
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Toronto
Yunel Escobar, SS
Corey, Patterson, LF
Jose Bautista, RF
Adam Lind, 1B
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Jose Molina, C
Rajai Davis, CF
Jayson Nix, 3B
Mike McCoy, 2B
