Kevin Youkilis (20) greets Manny Ramirez at the plate after Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Also scoring was J.D. Drew, right.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — Kevin Youkilis’ major-league-record fielding streak came to an end yesterday.

Youkilis dropped a throw from second baseman Alex Cora in the ninth inning, bringing an end to his errorless streak as a first baseman. Youkilis had gone 238 games, a total of 2,002 chances, without making an error before yesterday’s misplay.

To some degree, the error came about because of Youkilis’ over-aggressiveness. On Willie Bloomquist’s grounder toward the hole, Youkilis took a step or two toward the ball before realizing Cora had it in his range.

So Youkilis retreated to first. Cora fed him a quick throw but the ball hit Youkilis’ glove and fell to the dirt.

“When I spun back to catch the ball it was right on me. I didn’t see it. I turned around and it was too late. It happens. It’s not a big deal,” said Youkilis, the American League’s Gold Glove winner at first base last year.

Sentimental journey

With the Red Sox winning handily in the late innings, Wakefield couldn’t help but root — at least a little — for R.A. Dickey, the Seattle reliever who joins Wakefield as the only other knuckleballer in the majors.

Dickey pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief of starter Miguel Batista and allowed a run on two hits.

When the Sox were in Seattle two weeks ago, Wakefield, Farrell and Dickey huddled on the field at Safeco Field one afternoon and talked for 10-15 minutes.

“I’ve been giving him some tips,” said Wakefield, “sharing what I do, my mechanics — those sort of things. Just to be able to share some information and bounce some ideas off him has been pretty cool’

“He’s just getting his feet wet,” said Wakefield, “but he’s got a good one.”

Movin’ on up

Manny Ramirez continues to move up the all-time home run and RBI charts.

The first-inning homer yesterday was his 504th, tying Eddie Murray for 23rd all-time. Next up is Mel Ott (511), and Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews are tied at 512.

Ramirez also had two RBI, giving him 1,651, one behind Tony Perez for 24th all-time.

Those runnin’ Sox

Coco Crisp had two stolen bases in two attempts, giving the Sox 37 in the last 33 games. It was Crisp’s third multi-steal game of the season. Thanks to Jacoby Ellsbury’s eight multi-steal games, the Sox have now had a player steal more than one base in a game 11 times this season.

That’s the most for the Sox since 1994, when Otis Nixon (11) and Lee Tinsley (2) combined for 13 such games.

Matsuzaka’s throwing

Daisuke Matsuzaka threw on flat ground yesterday morning, his first bit of throwing since being place on the disabled list late last month.

Matsuzaka is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, but manager Terry Francona said he would not then be ready to resume his spot in the rotation.

The Sox have yet to decide whether Matsuzaka will go out on a rehab assignment to the minor leagues or work his way back with simulated games and live batting practice.

“We’ll need to figure that out,” said Francona. “We’ll sit down as a staff.”

smcadam@projo.com, skrasner@projo.com