ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Red Sox manager Terry Francona said infielder Kevin Youkilis returned to Boston to be examined by team doctors and underwent an MRI exam.
Youkilis was out of the starting lineup Friday for the start of a three-game series against the Rays because of a hip injury.
“He was really limping the last couple days,” Francona said. “The hip has started to bother him a little bit. Try to figure out what, where, why, so he hasn’t have to limp the last couple weeks because we need him.”
The Red Sox hold a 5 1/2-game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card race after losing the opener 7-2.
John Lackey, Friday’s starting pitcher, left after the third inning due to a bruised left calf. He was hit by John Jaso’s two-out liner, but recovered to throw the Rays’ catcher out at first base.
Also, pitcher Clay Buchholz, out with a lower back injury, threw at 120 feet and a schedule for when he could throw off a bullpen mound could be determined this weekend.
Affeldt out for season after cutting hand
SAN FRANCISCO — Jeremy Affeldt had just come in from swimming with his kids Thursday when he pulled out some frozen burgers to start preparing lunch.
The left-hander then suffered a deep cut in his right hand while using a knife to separate the patties, an injury that has ended his season. He said he came within a milimeter of an artery, and two friends with him were emergency medical technicians who quickly applied pressure to the wound and bandaged him up before going to the hospital.
Meanwhile, outfielder Nate Schierholtz traveled to Vail to see a foot specialist and might not play again in 2011.
Footnotes.
Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher is day to day with pain in his left elbow.
• Reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton was scratched from the Rangers’ lineup and was with his wife for the birth of their fourth daughter, Stella Faith Hamilton.
• White Sox utility player Brent Lillibridge will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken hand when he was hit by a pitch during Thursday’s 8-1 victory over the Indians.
