“Hopefully we can get him back and get him back feeling where he can be Youkilis. After the game [on Wednesday], it was becoming kind of obvious to everybody that he needed to get checked.’’
It has been a rough season for Youkilis, who has missed games with injuries to his left shin, left hip, left ankle, upper back, and right hamstring. Despite the physical issues, he is hitting .266 with 17 home runs and 78 RBIs.
Francona said he was hopeful Youkilis would return after 15 days, which would make him eligible Sept. 2.
When Clay Buchholz went on the disabled list June 19 with a lower back strain, it was not expected to be a long-term problem. He has not played since.
Ortiz ‘a little better’ David Ortiz reported to the clubhouse wearing a black medical boot to take pressure off the bursitis in his right heel. But he quickly changed into some Crocs and walked across the room without limping.
“I’m a little better,’’ he said before disappearing into the trainer’s room.
Ortiz has missed the last three games and it appears unlikely he will play in this series, if not the entire eight-game road trip.
According to Francona, the plan is for Ortiz to wear the boot for three more days and then take “two, three, four days’’ out of spikes before taking batting practice for a couple of days. That would put him out 7-9 days.
“They’re hoping that will knock it out,’’ Francona said.
Francona said having Ortiz and Youkilis out of the lineup is a problem, but not an excuse.
“You lose one, it’s kind of a big deal. Then you lose two, it doesn’t help,’’ the manager said. “Our challenge is to not let it affect us winning games.’’
Royal treatment Mike Aviles started at shortstop in place of Marco Scutaro. Aviles was drafted by the Royals in 2003, made his major league debut in 2008, and played in 301 games for Kansas City before being traded to the Red Sox July 30 for Yamaico Navarro and a minor league pitcher.
Until yesterday, Aviles had never been in the visitors’ clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium.
