"Kevin Youkilis spent the Red Sox' off day walking the streets of Seattle, seeing some sights and soaking in the nice weather.

Apparently, he overdid it.

Youkilis arrived at Safeco Field yesterday with tightness in the left side of his back. It didn't loosen up when he began taking swings in the batting cage. So, after being included in the original lineup, he was scratched about 30 minutes before batting practice.

"I guess off days are worse for me than playing," Youkilis said.

Then, a half-hour before the game, shortstop Marco Scutaro was scratched with a stiff back. Jed Lowrie played shortstop and batted in the No. 2 spot, while Mike Aviles was added to the lineup at third base.

Dustin Pedroia shifted to Youkilis' usual cleanup spot. Pedroia had been 8-for-19 with two homers, three RBI and an .895 slugging percentage in four previous games as a cleanup hitter this season."