"The Red Sox are hoping a cortisone shot and 15 days on the disabled list will allow Kevin Youkilis to return to the lineup in reasonable health for the remainder of the pennant race.

The third baseman remained in Boston to have his sore back examined. According to the team, Youkilis has a lower back strain. Youkilis was placed on the DL, with catcher Ryan Lavarnway promoted from Pawtucket to take his spot on the active roster.

"Structurally, I think he came out [of the examination] pretty sound,'' manager Terry Francona said before the Red Sox' 4-3 win. "Take some time to kind of let that recover. His body was so beat up anyway. This was like the last straw. It just kind of put him over the edge.

"Hopefully we can get him back and get him back feeling where he can be Youkilis. After the game [on Wednesday], it was becoming kind of obvious to everybody that he needed to get checked.''"