Youkilis, BoSox rough up Jays as Towers remains winless

BOSTON (AP) -- Jonathan Papelbon got the save after scaring the

Red Sox for the second consecutive game.

The rookie closer, who gave up a go-ahead double the previous

night, needed a visit from the trainer after catching his spike on

the pitching rubber with one strike to go in Boston's 7-4 victory

over the Blue Jays on Thursday night. But he stayed in and got

Vernon Wells on a comebacker to earn his 11th save in 11 chances.

"He wanted to make sure he was OK," Red Sox manager Terry

Francona said. "That time in the game, you don't want to leave a

pitch over the plate because you're feeling it somewhere else in

your body."

Matt Clement (3-2) held Toronto to two hits over six innings and

Kevin Youkilis had a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who scored five

in the first off Josh Towers.

Clement did not allow a runner past first base until there were

two outs in the sixth, when Lyle Overbay doubled to score Troy

Glaus and spoil Clement's shutout bid. The right-hander allowed

only one run with four walks while striking out three.

Keith Foulke worked a scoreless seventh, then Rudy Seanez gave

up Glaus' two-run homer in the eighth, the slugger's ninth of the

season. Eric Hinske hit a solo homer off Julian Tavarez in the

ninth to make it 7-4, then Aaron Hill singled and Papelbon came in.

He struck out Russ Adams, who doubled off him in the ninth

inning of Toronto's 7-6 victory Wednesday. With two on, Papelbon

got ahead of Wells 0-2, then third baseman Mike Lowell called time

and Francona led the training staff to the mound.

"My back foot got stuck in the rubber. When I went to release,

my leg didn't come over," Papelbon said. "It was a little scary.

No one ever wants to go on the DL. I just started to walk it off,

to make sure the pain didn't continue."

Towers (0-6) became the first six-game loser in the majors,

allowing five runs in the first inning, settling down, then giving

up Youkilis' homer in the sixth. The Blue Jays are 5-3 against the

Red Sox this season, and all the losses have come in Towers'

starts.

"He's about as low as he can go right now. He's got to go up,"

Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "You feel for him. You love

everything about the way the guy goes about his business. He's just

in a rut. He's had no breather. I'll tell you one thing: he won't

quit."

Boston had 12 hits -- three by Youkilis but none by David Ortiz,

hitless for the second consecutive game. Manny Ramirez was the only

other batter in the Red Sox starting lineup without a hit.

Youkilis grounded out leading off the first, then six of the

next seven batters reached base against Towers. The right-hander

allowed just four singles over the next four innings before Lowell,

who had a two-run double in the first, doubled and scored on

Youkilis' second homer of the year.

"I'll take consolation when I stop giving up seven runs a

game," Towers said. "I haven't been getting it done, and the

team's going to have to make some decisions."Game notes
Wells has reached base safely in all 27 Toronto games,

tying Bret Boone (2003) and Victor Martinez (2006) for the longest

streak to begin a season. ... Adams, who snapped an 0-for-14 slump

with his big hit Wednesday, was moved from the No. 8 spot to

leadoff in the batting order. ... Boston LHP David Wells threw 40

pitches off a mound and is scheduled to throw another 40-45 pitches

on Sunday, 50-60 on Wednesday and pitch a simulated game next

Saturday. If all goes well, he could appear in a minor league rehab

stint May 18, manager Terry Francona said. ... The Red Sox optioned

1B Hee-Seop Choi to Triple-A Pawtucket after activating him from

the disabled list. ... Commissioner Bud Selig was at the game and

in town to honor the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, who got their

logo on the Green Monster.