BOSTON –– Bobby Valentine is trying to be cautious with Kevin Youkilis.
Youkilis, who missed his second straight game on Monday with a stiff back, was initially scheduled to play in the 11-6 victory over the Athletics. But the Red Sox manager thought otherwise after watching him before the game.
“I guess he’s day-to-day, you know,” Valentine said. “He was in the lineup. It was during groundballs today his back tightened up again, that’s what we had yesterday during batting practice.
“He seemed to think he could be OK. He’s got a little twinge here and there, but he’d play if he could, I guarantee you that. He’s trying to. He just took too many groundballs.”
Valentine wound up inserting Nick Punto, who went 0-for-3, at third base.
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