Kevin Youkilis moves to protect himself from a pitch by the Yankees’ Joba Chamberlain that is high and tight. The ball struck Youkilis’ bat, and the Sox first baseman eventually struck out.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

BOSTON — It was all quiet on the rivalry front last night until the bottom of the seventh inning, when, once again, Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain threw a pitch that came interestingly close to the Sox’ Kevin Youkilis.

It’s the fourth time in less than a year that Chamberlain has thrown a pitch very close to Youkilis, and it’s evident that a pattern exists. Both clubs were issued a warning, and there was no reciprocation by the Red Sox last night in a game New York won, 1-0.

Chamberlain improved to 3-3 and Sox pitcher Josh Beckett dropped to 9-7. Even though Boston suffered another one-run loss, Beckett was more concerned about his teammate after the game. It was clear he took exception to the pitch at Youkilis’ head, and when Beckett was asked about the inside pitch, he went off.

“Inside? It was at his head,” he said. “It wasn’t inside. Inside were the pitches I was throwing to Alex (Rodriguez). It worked out and I had a lot of adrenaline going, anyway. Tito [manager Terry Francona] had pulled me from the game. … I think Youk has some decent success (against Chamberlain) and maybe took some good swings at him. It’s just one of those deals. They have a way of working themselves out.”

Chamberlain said afterward that there was no intent to throw at Youkilis.

“It’s two balls, no strikes. I’ve got to throw a strike,” he explained. “I’m trying to throw a strike. I’m not trying to hit him.

“It’s a 2-0 count and the game is 1-0,” he continued. “You think I want to put the lead runner on with those two guys coming up behind him?”

Beckett was taken out after his seven innings, so he didn’t have a chance to send a message back at the Yankees.

There’s a history between Chamberlain and Youkilis that dates to late last season, when the hard-throwing right-hander, who was a rookie at the time, threw behind the Sox first baseman twice during an at-bat in New York. Chamberlain was ejected after the second offering.

Fast forward to earlier this month, again in New York, when Chamberlain threw a pitch behind Youkilis again. Youkilis was fuming after that game and said he didn’t want to talk about it because he was afraid he would say something he shouldn’t, and possible face disciplinary action.

Francona yesterday afternoon had pooh-poohed any notion that problems would continue at Fenway Park last night in the first of a three-game set against the Yankees.

He had a different opinion after the game.

Chamberlain “has great command until Youk gets in there,” Francona said wryly.

New York manager Joe Girardi said his starter did had no intent to hit Youkilis and doesn’t think there’s tension between the two.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that [the umpires] gave a warning [to] both sides, but I understand why they did it. I understand why Youkilis is upset about it. But, a 1-0 game, you are not going to hit the lead-off guy — that would be just crazy. But I understand why people get emotional.”

Before last night’s game, Francona had said he wasn’t thinking about it, and thought what happened in the past was over.

“Why would I want to say something about that?” Francona said. “When things like that happen, or reactions like that happen — it probably happens a lot when we play New York — players and managers, even when you do react, we move on. That’s just the way it is. And when you play the Yankees, you answer things you wouldn’t have to normally answer.”

With the Yankees leading, 1-0, last night, Youkilis led off the bottom of the seventh inning. With a 2-0 count, Chamberlain threw a fastball high and tight, dropping the batter to the ground. Immediately, Beckett emerged from the dugout and was almost on the grass, clearly fired up about Chamberlain’s offering.

With that, home-plate umpire Marty Foster issued warnings to both benches, which brought both managers out to discuss it. After everyone made their way back into their respective dugouts and play resumed, Chamberlain eventually struck out Youkilis for the first out of the inning. The always-emotional Youkilis just walked back to the dugout with only a quick glance toward the mound.

Beckett, a good ol’ Texas boy, likely had his six-shooter (aka his right arm) ready for reciprocation in the top of the eighth inning. However, after a 110-pitch outing, Francona decided to pull Beckett in favor of reliever Javier Lopez.

Beckett allowed only one run on nine hits during his seven-inning outing. The lone run came on weak ground ball to the left side of the infield. The Sox had the shift on for left-handed hitting Jason Giambi, which allowed Bobby Abreu to score from third.

Chamberlain was also done after his seven scoreless innings — his longest outing of the season — and allowed only three hits. New York’s bullpen of Kyle Farnsworth and closer Mariano Rivera (26th save) finished the job en route to a one-run victory.

Because it was such a close game, the Sox’ bullpen had to keep focused on the task at hand and couldn’t worry about responding. Boston reliever Manny Delcarmen, who was removed with cramping in his right forearm after striking out his only batter, Alex Rodriguez, in the eighth inning called Chamberlain’s pitch to Youkilis “ridiculous.”

jmcdonal@projo.com