"Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis believes Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price hit him on purpose with a pitch in the first inning of Thursday's game. But he doesn't believe Price hit him for the reason that many others do.

Though some, possibly including home plate umpire Gary Darling, believe Price threw at Youkilis as retaliation for Youkilis stepping on Rays first baseman Casey Kotchman's foot on Tuesday, Youkilis believes otherwise.

"I don't understand the Kotchman thing,'' said Youkilis, who left a bruise on the back of Kotchman's ankle after he clipped him while crossing first base near the end of the Rays win on Tuesday.

"That was an accident (from me) running and lunging out. I didn't step on him. My toe, if you watch (the replay) in very (slow motion), my toe was pointed like it usually is and it hit his Achilles or his ankle.''

"I mean, I've been stepped on at first base and you don't retaliate against anybody. So the only thing that makes any logical sense is you have (a) left-handed hitter (coming) up and a guy that doesn't run that well and the base is open.''

The left-hand hitter coming up in this case was David Ortiz, but in a difficult inning in which he said he couldn't find command of his fastball, Price walked Ortiz to help the Red Sox take a 1-0 lead."