"Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew found themselves in a familiar situation last night: Playing for the Red Sox against a New York rival in the heat of a pennant race.

But there was a twist to this tale. While Boston was taking on the Yankees at Fenway Park, Youkilis and Drew were six hours away in Western New York, trying to help another first-place Red Sox club inch toward the postseason.

The two Boston stars began a short rehab stint for Pawtucket against the Rochester Red Wings, the Twins' top farm team, before a sellout crowd of 10,890 at Frontier Field. Rochester won, 8-6.

Drew, batting second and playing right field, went 3 for 3 (all singles) before being removed in the bottom of the fifth. He scored in the fifth.

"It felt really good,'' Drew said. "I tried to simplify things: just see the ball. All in all, it was a good night.''

Youkilis, batting third as the designated hitter, went 1 for 4 and drew a walk. It could have been 2 for 4. Youkilis lined a shot off the glove of third baseman Chase Lambin that rolled into left field in the ninth, but it was ruled an error.

Youkilis also scored in the fifth, when Pawtucket rallied from a 6-0 deficit with four runs.

"It felt good to get back on a baseball field,'' said Youkilis, who had not played since going on the disabled list Aug. 18 with a strained lower back. He is eligible to join the Sox Friday.

"I got my baseball legs under me. I was a little rusty at first, but it felt good. Passing the physical test [of playing in a game] was key.''

Youkilis is hitting .266 with 17 homers and 78 RBIs for Boston. The Sox primarily have been using Jed Lowrie at third base in his absence."