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Youkilis' blast lifts Red Sox past Reds

Jun 15, 2008 - 2:42 AM By Douglas Tifft PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- For Kevin Youkilis, it is good to be home.

Playing in his first professional game in his hometown, Youkilis hit his 11th home run of the season - the first of back-to-back home runs in the 10th inning - to give the Boston Red Sox a 6-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Youkilis, who grew up rooting for the Reds and starred at the University of Cincinnati, had three hits and two RBI after sitting out Friday's game in favor of Sean Casey, who had been dubbed "The mayor of Cincinnati" during his eight years as the Reds' first baseman.

"It was definitely a great home run, and just to be able to hit a major league home run here in Cincinnati, something I've never done, having never played here, it was definitely exciting," Youkilis said. "But other than a personal thing, it was great for this team to get back on track and get a win."

"I think he's excited, naturally. I think he handles things real well," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "I know he was very excited, though. I don't blame him, he ought to be. I wish we had three positions where he could have played Friday night."

Youkilis came up with one out in the 10th and drove a pitch from Mike Lincoln (0-2) deep over the wall in right-center field, giving Boston a 5-4 lead.. Coco Crisp followed with a solo shot to almost the same spot to push the cushion to 6-4.

"We had heard this ballpark plays really small. I agree," Francona said. "(Youkilis) took a great swing, and so did Coco."

The late rally would not have been needed, however, if not for a Red Sox bullpen collapse.

After Hideki Okajima allowed one run in one-third of an inning in the eighth, Boston was one strike away from a win in the ninth. But Edwin Encarnacion hit his 11th home run of the season off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon to tie the game at 4-4.

It was the third blown save of the season for Papelbon (3-2), who ended up recording the win. Craig Hansen pitched a scoreless 10th for his first career save.

"I had no clue," Hansen said about the save. "When I was walking off the field, someone told me, and then it clicked. (Right fielder J.D.) Drew gave me the ball, the popout, which everyone else in the stands thought was a home run."

The bullpen troubles wasted a solid outing from Tim Wakefield, who went seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He yielded solo home runs to Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips but struck out six.

The Reds also got a quality start from Edinson Volquez, who allowed three runs - two earned - in seven innings and struck out nine.

Rookie Jacoby Ellsbury's speed manufactured a run in the first when he singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, stole third - his 30th of the season - and scored on a throwing error by catcher Paul Bako.

"The two runs we gave them early, those were the runs that cost us," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. "You never know which runs will cost you. You try to bring in every run you can so you don't lose like we did today. Especially against an offensive team like that - they don't need you to give them runs."

Drew also had two hits and two runs scored for the Red Sox.