BOSTON — Struggling catcher Jason Varitek was given last night off from the starting lineup.

Varitek was replaced behind the plate by Kevin Cash for a variety of reasons, not the least which was the fact that the Sox’ captain is in a horrendous slump.

Varitek’s 0-for-3 performance Monday night dropped his season average to .215. Varitek, who was voted to the All-Star team by American League players and managers, is batting a woeful .128 (15-for-117) over his last 34 games.

Also figuring into manager Terry Francona’s decision to give Varitek a breather was the schedule. Boston came home Monday from a 10-game trip that ended with four intense games against the Yankees with four different starting times. Varitek appeared in all of those games, then started Monday night’s game against the Twins.

It was Francona’s intention to give Varitek a night off for one of the two night games against Minnesota because he wants Varitek to catch Josh Beckett in today’s matinee series finale, which will be followed by a scheduled day off for the team.

There wasn’t any discussion with Varitek about a night off.

“What I’ve learned after five years is you can’t ask Tek,” said Francona. “He wants to do whatever is right, and in his mind it’s not ever saying he can’t play. But we’re coming off an emotional series, a whole lot of one-run games. You feel it. We were all (more tired) coming home.”

Varitek took early batting practice yesterday afternoon. He acknowledged that the opposition has been pitching him up in the strike zone.

“They’ve always pitched me up. I’ve been overaggressive at times. [Monday] night I swung at a pitch that was too high (flyout to center) and one that was marginally high (another flyout to center). Lately, they’ve been pitching me all kinds of ways and they’re all working,” said Varitek, with a rueful smile.

“I thought it was in his best interest to sit him,” said Francona.

Varitek entered the game in the top of the eighth inning when Jeff Bailey pinch-hit for Cash in the seventh.

Around the bases

The triple for Kevin Youkilis was his fourth of the year, tying his major-league total prior to this season. Youkilis had a pair of triples in each of the 2006 and 2007 seasons. … Jonathan Papelbon earned his 99th career save last night. He also pitched for the third time in three days, the first time he’s done that this season. Before this stretch, the last time Papelbon had pitched three days in a row was Sept. 2-4, 2007.

skrasner@projo.com