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Baseball Today: Friday, September 7 »

Pregame Notes, Sept. 6

-- Eric Gagne, who hasn't pitched in a game since Aug. 26 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, threw a bullpen session this afternoon. The Sox, said manager Terry Francona, are going to be patient with him.

"We're not going to force him to the mound when he's not ready. That doesn't make any sense," said Francona.

-- Bobby Kielty (lower back) is in the starting lineup, replacing impressive rookie Jacoby Ellsbury, a left-handed hitter, in left field. The Orioles are starting a left-handed pitcher, Garrett Olson. Kielty isn't exactly 100 percent, but he's good enough to play, said Francona.

-- Kevin Youkilis has gone 177 consecutive games without a fielding error at first base, one shy of the American League record, established by Mike Hegan, who did not make an error in 178 games in a row for Milwaukee and Oakland from Sept. 24, 1970 to May 20, 1973.

Youkilis has handled 1,499 chances in his 177 errorless games, which includes 165 starts. Hegan handled 787 chances, starting only 52 games during his errorless streak. Steve Garvey boasts the major league record -- 193 games -- while playing for San Diego from June 26, 1983 to April 14, 1985.

Yesterday Youkilis played in his 122nd game at first, edging past Tampa Bay's Travis Lee for consecutive errorless games in one season. Lee played 121 games in a row without an error in 2003.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 5:00 PM | Permalink