ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — J.D. Drew wasn’t in the starting lineup for Game Two of the ALCS against the Rays last night, but it’s not because he’s hurting again.

Drew, who played in only 2 of the final 38 regular-season games because of a herniated disk in his back, was drilled in the shoulder by a pitch from Rays reliever Grant Balfour in the eighth inning Friday night. He was able to finish the game and said he was fine afterward.

Manager Terry Francona said Drew was a little sore, but with the Rays sending lefty Scott Kazmir to the mound in Game Two he felt it best to have switch-hitter Coco Crisp in the lineup instead.

“You hate to make light when anyone gets hit, but after the way it looked, it was such a relief that it only hit him in the shoulder,” Francona said. “Where I was sitting I thought it hit him in the face.”

Youkilis gets in the swing

Kevin Youkilis wasn’t as potent offensively in the ALDS as he had been during the regular season. During the season, the Sox’ infielder posted a .312 average with 29 homers and 115 RBI. In the first round of the playoffs against the Angels, however, he was quiet at the plate. He went 4-for-18 in that series, including an 0-for-4 in Game Four at Fenway Park.

In Game One of the ALCS against the Rays Friday night at Tropicana Field, however, he exploded onto the scene. He went 3-for-4, including a pair of doubles and one RBI.

What’s even more impressive about his performance is the fact he did it off Tampa Bay ace James Shields. Youkilis entered Friday’s game 0-for-17 in his career against the right-hander, but he proved once the postseason starts, regular-season stats mean nothing.

“I don’t think about that stuff when I play,” said Youkilis. “You can’t put that stuff in your head. I told myself to go up there and try to lay off the changeup as much as I can and just try to see the ball. I saw the ball pretty good today. He’s a tough pitcher to face. He’s one of those guys who’s going to get you out a lot. You’ve just got to go up there and battle and grind it out.”

Youkilis hit a ground-rule double in the first inning, a single in the fourth and an RBI double in the eighth inning.

“He’s hitting right smack in the middle in the cleanup spot and Shields had been so tough on him coming into the series,” said Francona. “He took some really good swings (Friday).”

In eight career ALCS games prior to last night, Youkilis was hitting .531 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 8 RBI and 10 runs scored.

Sox get upper hand

The Red Sox not only took the home-field advantage away from Tampa Bay with a 2-0 victory in Game One of the A.L. championship series, history is now on their side for advancing to the World Series.

In the previous 38 ALCS matchups, the winner of the first game has won the series 23 times (62 percent).

“It matters a lot,” said Francona. “In this series, the fourth win would be more important. We’re not going to downplay a win. At the same time, if we lost, we wouldn’t give up. But any day you show up, it’s certainly a lot more rewarding to win.”

In five of the last eight ALCS prior to this year, however, the Game One loser bounced back to win the series.

“You really can’t get too down,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “I preach it’s one game at a time. That is so pertinent regarding playoff situations. So for me, we’ve got to file this one, come back tomorrow, and I believe our guys will.”

Pressure on two fronts

While he admits there was more pressure to beat the Red Sox, Dodgers manager Joe Torre said there was almost as much pressure put on him when he was Yankee manager to beat Tampa Bay.

The reason? The Yankees hold their spring-training camp in Tampa, have organizational offices there, and owner George Steinbrenner didn’t want to lose to the hometown team.

“You have to beat the Red Sox and Tampa (when you’re the Yankee manager),” Torre said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

jmcdonal@projo.com