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September 25, 2007
BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- First baseman Kevin Youkilis, who hasn't played since being drilled on the inside of the right wrist by a Chien-Ming Wang pitch on Sept. 15, will be back in the starting lineup Wednesday night against Oakland.
Youkilis and manager Terry Francona both announced that bit of happy Red Sox news Tuesday afternoon.
Youkilis, who has missed the last seven games, said he had a cortisone shot in the ailing wrist on Friday while he and the Red Sox were in Tampa. The shot helped take out some of the persistent swelling in the joint, allowing him to be able to take batting practice Monday at Fenway Park during the team's day off.
''Hopefully now I'll be fine for the rest of the year," said Youkilis, who is batting .288 with 16 homers and 81 RBI. ''I'll be a lot happier camper being able to play. The worst thing in all of sports is not to be able to play on a daily basis. That's worse than the pain in the body.''
Francona said Youkilis could be available to pinch hit Tuesday night. Eric Hinske has started the games Youkilis missed and was only batting .111 (3-for-27) in those seven games heading into Tuesday night's game against the A's.
Posted by Steven Krasner 
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