Youkilis

BOSTON — Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis was out of the starting lineup last night, a day after leaving mid-game when he was struck in the right eye by an errant throw during between-inning warmups.

Youkilis was struck in the eye by a throw from Mike Lowell on Monday night and immediately suffered significant swelling. Yesterday, the eye remained swollen, and because of watering in the eye, he was experiencing some blurred vision.

The Red Sox sent him to Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, where the eye was dilated for further examination.

“He looks like he got beat up,” said manager Terry Francona.

The swelling and blurring “would make it hard to hit,” said Francona.

Despite that, Youkilis came into the game in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement for Brandon Moss at first.

Moss started the game at first. Alex Cora was the backup option with Youkilis unavailable and Sean Casey serving the middle game of his three-game suspension.

When Youkilis arrived in the clubhouse yesterday afternoon, he was in a very testy mood. He was at his stall when he was approached by a few reporters when he stuck up his hand, waved it back and forth, and told the media scrum he was not talking.

“It’s just a bruised eye,” he said. “My vision is fine. I don’t feel like talking. I’ll be fine.”

When he began to walk away, a local television photographer was filming when Youkilis confronted him, saying: “Didn’t I just say I wasn’t talking today? Did you tape that?” he asked. When the cameraman said “No,” Youkilis fired back.

“Don’t lie,” he said, shaking his head.

Youkilis walked off in a huff and returned a few minutes later, asking for one of the local newspapers. It was obvious he was extremely bothered by something.

smcadam@projo.com