Red Sox-Twins Preview

5/10/2008 10:58 PM

By MATT BROWN
STATS Editor

The Boston Red Sox have a feared lineup, but it's known more for sluggers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez than for Kevin Youkilis.

Perhaps that should change.

Youkilis looks to continue his hot hitting Sunday night when the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins play the third of their four-game series at the Metrodome.

Youkilis has given Boston (24-15) solid production in the past, with more than 150 hits and 35 doubles in both 2006 and 2007 - his first two full seasons in the majors. However, the first baseman appears to be taking his hitting to a new level in 2008.

His career high in home runs is 16 in 2007, but Youkilis is already halfway there this season after hitting his eighth homer Saturday night in Boston's 5-2 victory. Six of those long balls have come in the last seven games, including five to help the Red Sox go 4-2 through the first six games of their 10-game road trip.

During an eight-game hit streak, Youkilis is batting .424 (14-for-33) with five doubles, 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored to go with the six homers.

Hitters less heralded than Youkilis also helped Boston on Saturday, as Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie hit back-to-back homers from the bottom two spots in the lineup in the seventh inning to give the Red Sox the lead.

"It is a little ironic," Twins starter Glen Perkins said. "You've got (Ortiz and Ramirez) and got them to ground out a few times, got them to strike out. And then the eight, nine hitters, those are the guys you don't want to hurt you. You expect the other guys that might do the damage, but that is the game of baseball."

Boston starter Tim Wakefield (3-1, 3.33 ERA) has been solid all season - allowing three earned runs or fewer in six of his seven starts - but he pitched a gem in his last outing. The 41-year-old knuckleballer limited the Tigers to two hits over eight innings Tuesday as the Red Sox won 5-0 at Detroit.

"When I establish I can throw strikes with my knuckleball, it helps make my other pitches better," said Wakefield, who struck out a season-high six and didn't walk a batter.

Wakefield has excelled against Minnesota over the years, going 13-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 24 appearances, including 21 starts.

The Twins (18-17), who have alternated wins and losses over their last six games, will counter with rookie Nick Blackburn (2-2, 3.65).

The 26-year-old right-hander has pitched his best at the Metrodome, going 2-1 with a 1.66 ERA at home compared with an 0-1 record and 5.56 ERA in four road outings.

He turned in a quality road start Tuesday, allowing three earned runs over six innings, but got charged with the loss in a 7-1 defeat to the Chicago White Sox.

Blackburn also took the loss in his only career appearance against the Red Sox, a 6-4 defeat last Sept. 29, when he gave up four runs - three of them on a homer by J.D. Drew - in one inning of relief.

Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo missed Saturday's game with a mild concussion he sustained while sliding in Friday's series opener. He is listed as day-to-day.