August 12
Boston Globe
columnist Dan Shaughnessy
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Bill Belichick would have loved it. Kevin Youkilis took a first-pitch fastball in the back, hesitated for a split second, then made a bull rush for 20-year-old Tiger pitcher Rick Porcello. The kid righty was backpedaling when a sprinting Youk flung his helmet at him, then wrapped him up and wrestled him to the ground like a baby calf. Go Time. Now we know who can take the place of Mike Vrabel. "At some point you've got to protect yourself,'' said a somewhat chagrined Youkilis. " . . . I let my emotions get the best of me.'' The Red Sox were kick-started by Youk's five-star nutty. Trailing, 3-0, when Youkilis got plunked, they rallied to beat the Tigers, 7-5. But a price will be paid. ..."