BOSTONThird baseman Kevin Youkilis, on the disabled list retroactive to April 29 with a low back strain, will stay behind when the team travels to Kansas City for a three-game series beginning Monday and start a walking program, manager Bobby Valentine said.
"Probably backward and forward and getting into the healthy movement thats needed," Valentine said. "Hes progressing.
Its tough to put the clock on an injury. When Youks ready hell definitely let us know.
Left-hander Rich Hill has pitched 2 23 innings over three games since coming back on April 27 from Tommy John surgery in June.
Hes still getting his legs underneath him, Valentine said. He hasnt quite made the pitches that he feels he can make. His breaking ball is stillit was left inside to a left-handed hitter the other night. He got a pop-up to left and it was still good that we got the results. But its not quite coming out of his hand the way he wants it to. It will soon once he can relax in that role.
The addition of left-hander Andrew Miller gives Valentine three lefties in the bullpen, with Hill and Franklin Morales.
Well see what teams were facing and how it could match up better, Valentine said, of how eh will use them. Its not like this was a designed plan. Andrew was the guy to come up because we had a vacancy and he was ready to come. I like left-handers who are good and I like right-handers who are good, too.
Boston Red Sox
The Orioles go for the three-game sweep this afternoon. They have not swept a three-game set at Fenway Park since June 10-12, 1994.