BALTIMORE — Even though they placed him on the 15-day disabled list due to a strain in his surgically repaired right hip, the Red Sox are encouraged by Mike Lowell's reaction to an injection he received on Monday in Boston.

Lowell met with team physical therapist Scott Waugh in Boston Tuesday morning, and — after discussions with general manager Theo Epstein, manager Terry Francona and the medical staff — everyone was in agreement the Sox' veteran third baseman would be better off going on the DL.

"When Mikey showed up [Tuesday], he felt great," said Francona. "That was the good news. Great, like to the point where he thought he could play in a couple of days, which we were excited about. At the same time, and I think Mikey agrees with this," the Sox felt he would benefit from time off.

Lowell is eligible to come off the disabled list on July 12, the day before the All-Star break, but the Sox' plan is to activate him on July 17, which is the first game after the break. That will give him 19 days off, in which he'll miss a total of 14 games.

"We'll get him back playing after the All-Star break feeling pretty good," said Francona. "As much as he doesn't want to, I think he buys in."

Lowell, 35, is batting .282 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI.

"We need him to win," said teammate Dustin Pedroia. "We especially need his presence."

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Jeff Bailey was recalled from Pawtucket to replace Lowell. Bailey, a first baseman/outfielder, arrived here at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon and was in the starting lineup at first base, batting ninth.

Ironically, Bailey hasn't played first base for the PawSox in three weeks.

Primarily used as the leadoff hitter for Pawtucket, Francona actually thought about putting Bailey in the No. 1 spot in the order because of his ability to get on base and swing at strikes.

"Even though he doesn't have a ton of time in the big leagues, I think he has a very mature and a veteran mentality," said Francona. "That's part of the reason why we'll able to do what we do with him and make it work."

At the time of the callup, Bailey was in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak with two doubles and a home run. He batted .353 during that stretch.

This is his second stint with the Red Sox this season. Bailey, 30, made his major-league debut with the Sox in 2007, when he appeared in three games. In 2008, he played in 27 games for Boston, and this season he's appeared in 24 games.

"We all knew Mike was ailing a little bit. It was all over the papers," Bailey said. "I kind of had an idea this might be coming."

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One night after being robbed of a home run by Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, Kevin Youkilis got his revenge Tuesday.

With one out in the first inning, Youkilis crushed a 1-and-2 offering from Orioles starter Rich Hill toward the Orioles' bullpen in left-center field. The very athletic Jones sprinted back and made a leaping catch as he crashed into the wall. But when he hit the wall, his glove came off his hand and fell into the bullpen, giving Youkilis a two-run homer.

Jones robbed Youkilis of a home run on a similar play in the top of the fourth inning Monday night.

On Tuesday night, Jones lay motionless on the ground for several seconds after hitting the wall. He got to his feet and stayed in the game, striking out against John Smoltz in the bottom of the first. But in the top of the third, he was replaced by Felix Pie.

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The Red Sox pulled a major brain freeze in the bottom of the sixth inning.

After recording the second out, every Red Sox infielder jogged off the field and into the dugout, thinking the inning was over. The Orioles' Nick Markakis stood at the plate with a confusing look on his face, and the 31,969 fans began to laugh and clap.

Home-plate umpire Tony Randazzo had to walk over to the dugout and tell the players there were only two outs. Youkilis, at third base, stood with his glove over his face and was laughing.

Former major league umpire and current supervisor Richie Garcia was in the press box and said he'd never seen that.

jmcdonal@projo.com