Youkilis Joins PawSox

Judging by all the Red Sox gear I saw fans wearing around Durham Bulls Athletic Park last night, there’s no doubt we’ll hear some “Youuuuuk” calls this evening.

Red Sox All-Star Kevin Youkilis is scheduled to join the PawSox tonight in Durham where he will begin his minor league rehab assignment (back strain). Various reports suggest that Youk will serve as Pawtucket’s designated hitter and get three at-bats.

Word is that he will then play the field on Thursday (same night Dice-K is scheduled to start for the PawSox), and then a decision will be made whether he is ready to join the Red Sox in Philadelphia.

Youkilis rehabbed in two games with the PawSox last season as well as in 2009. He combined to play in 113 games with Pawtucket between 2003-05. Overall, he hit .256 with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs. (pawsox.com)

PawSox Notebook:

• No doubt the biggest headline from last night’s 8-2 win in Durham was the home run from shortstop Jose Iglesias. Just his second-career long ball, Iglesias drilled a laser over the 34-foot tall “Blue Monster” in left field. The homer came in his 745th-career at bat (204 games). His previous home run came last year on August 26 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and just like last night’s, it was a two-run shot.

• Hard to believe, but last night marked the first multi-RBI game of the season for Ryan Lavarnway. The power-hitting catcher smashed a two-run double in the top of the 9th to extend his current hit streak to five games. The Yale product has upped his average to .273 and connected on his first extra-base hit in eight games. Of his 30 hits this year, 24 have been singles.

• Che-Hsuan Lin is also riding a five-game hitting streak and has at least one hit in 9 of his last 10 games. The PawSox outfielder is tied for second on the club with 17 walks, and has struck out just 15 times in 110 at-bats.

• Reliever Mark Melancon made his 12th appearance of the season last night and once again proved that he can more than handle International League batters. The hard-throwing righty has now tossed 12 scoreless innings while striking out 20 batters and not walking a man or allowing a run.

The PawSox and Bulls tangle tonight at 7:05 with our pre-game coverage starting at 6:50. Righty Doug Mathis (2-2, 5.01), coming off six scoreless innings against Columbus, will be opposed by right-hander Lance Pendleton (1-1, 4.15).

Talk with you then.

-AG

@aaronmgoldsmith
agoldsmith@pawsox.com