Major League Baseball

Youkilis out of Boston lineup with bad back muscle

Published Jul. 5, 2011 9:58 p.m. ET

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Kevin Youkilis is being held out of the Boston Red Sox lineup Tuesday with a bruised back muscle after being hit by a pitch from Toronto's Brandon Morrow in a game a day earlier.

Youkilis has been battling a variety of ailments, and left Monday's game after being drilled high on his back. The third baseman is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday night in the series finale against the Blue Jays.

Manager Terry Francona says ''he's a little stiff'' and the team doctors feel it's best to give him a day off.

With Youkilis out, Dustin Pedroia drops to the cleanup spot for the second time in less than a week. Last week, with Youkilis out with a left ankle contusion, Pedroia was 1-for-5 with a home run in a game against the Phillies.

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