"A week ago, when he was not among the four Red Sox players selected to represent the team at the 2011 All-Star Game, third baseman Kevin Youkilis was looking forward to the time off to rest his battered body.

So when Theo Epstein approached Youkilis after the Sox' 10-3 victory over the Orioles Friday and informed him that he had been selected to replace injured Yankee Alex Rodriguez, the first thing the general manager asked was if Youkilis was up to playing. Epstein didn't have to ask twice.

"I said I was feeling better and I would love to,'' Youkilis said. "I would be honored, so I decided to go.''"