SEATTLE -- Pity poor Kevin Youkilis.

With Manny Ramirez telling manager Terry Francona he couldn't play yesterday, Youkilis, an infielder by trade, was sent out to left field for his third start of the season at the position, and first since June 17.

He was just back from a bout with a violent stomach virus and he was staring into a very tough sun.

Youkilis caught two balls hit his way in the first inning, but the second inning proved to be a nightmare for him.

First, he took a step in and had Yuniesky Betancourt's hard liner right at him sail over his head for a leadoff double. He probably couldn't have caught the ball anyway, but the misstep cost him any remote chance.

Then, with one out, Youkilis lost Willie Bloomquists' routine high fly ball in the sun, the ball hitting off his body and falling to the ground.

Youkilis initially was charged with an error, though later the call was changed to a double. In any event, the Mariners had runners at second and third with one out. Seattle pushed across one run in the inning.

"That was my fault putting him in that position," said manager Terry Francona. "I was trying to get as much offense (in the lineup) as I could."

The throw wasn't crisp The Mariners ran on Coco Crisp's weak arm in the second.

With the bases filled and one out, Chris Snelling lofted a fly ball to shallow center. Crisp got a poor jump on the ball, breaking back a few steps before racing in at full speed.

He made a basket catch about 20 to 30 feet behind second base. Betancourt, with no hesitation, tagged and steamed home. Crisp threw on the run instead of planting his feet to make a throw. The throw was woefully weak and wide, with Betancourt scoring standing up, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead.

A first for Pedroia Dustin Pedroia was charged with the first error of his big-league career.

Pedroia, playing second base, raced to his right for Raul Ibanez's leadoff grounder up the middle in the third.

Most big-league infielders tend to take this type of ball on the backhand, so they are planted on their right foot as they field it, ready to make a quick throw to first.

Pedroia elected to get in front of the ball, using quick steps to square up to the ball. But as he did so, the ball hopped up on him a bit and went off his glove for an error.

The rookie, though, had an impressive at-bat in the fifth, working a 13-pitch walk. Pedroia fell behind in the count at 1 and 2, and kept fouling pitches off, including one off his back foot, before finally drawing his first big-league base on balls.

Pedroia got a little overaggressive later in the inning, rounding second base a bit too far after a Seattle throwing error resulted in a run, and he was put out in a rundown, ending the inning.

Trying to do too much What was he thinking?

With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, Bloomquist hit a chopper to Loretta at first base. Loretta threw home to Javy Lopez for the force at the plate.

Lopez should have been content with the one out. But he tried to complete a double play, firing a throw to first base. It was an ill-advised throw because Bloomquist already was close to the bag, so he had no chance to get the out.

And it became an even worse decision when he fired the ball past pitcher Julian Tavarez, covering the base, giving the Mariners an extra run, and a 6-1, in the inning.

Confusion benefits Cora Confusion benefits Cora Boston shortstop Alex Cora turned an unusual unassisted double play in the sixth.

With runners at first (Richie Sexson) and second (Raul Ibanez), Boston pitcher Julian Tavarez gave it his best Luis Tiant imitation, turning his body back toward second base in his delivery.

Ibanez thought Tavarez was going to throw to second to try to pick him off, so he went back to the bag with his back to Tavarez. He didn't see that Tavarez was delivering a pitch to the plate, which Ben Broussard hit on the ground up the middle.

Cora fielded the ball and stepped on the bag for the first out. Ibanez had no idea where the ball was. He stayed on the bag in confusion, and then, when Cora and Sexson arrived, he stepped off the bag, still not having a clue as to what was going on, whereupon Cora slapped the tag on him, completing a bizarre inning-ending double play.

Not going their way If the Red Sox didn't have bad luck these days, they wouldn't have any luck at all, as the expression goes.

In the first inning, Crisp worked a walk after falling behind in the count at 0 and 2. On a 1-and-2 pitch to Mark Loretta, Crisp took off for second, hoping to swipe his 19th base.

Loretta swung at the pitch and scalded it -- right at third baseman Adrian Beltre. By then, Crisp was at second base. Beltre took his time and lobbed a throw to first for a double play.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340