Kevin Youkilis and Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello were both suspended for five games by Major League Baseball for their parts in a benches-clearing melee last night. Porcello appealed his suspension but Youkilis decided not to appeal and begins serving his suspension tonight.
Porcello was suspended for deliberately throwing pitches at both Victor Martinez -- whom he missed -- and Youkilis, whom he hit in the back. Youkilis charged the mound and threw his batting helmet at the Tigers rookie.
Mike Lowell, who hit two homers after pinch running for Youkilis last night, starts at third base for the Red Sox tonight while Casey Kotchman plays first base.
The starting lineups for tonight's game as the Red Sox seek their third win in a row following a six-game losing streak:
Tigers
Curtis Granderson, cf
Placido Polanco, 2b
Clete Thomas, lf
Marcus Thames, dh
Carlos Guillen, 1b
Magglio Ordonez, rf
Alex Avila, c
Brandon Inge, 3b
Adam Everett, ss
Zach Miner, rhp
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, cf
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Jason Bay, lf
David Ortiz, dh
Mike Lowell, 3b
J.D. Drew, rf
Casey Kotchman, 1b
Jason Varitek, c
Nick Green, ss
Josh Beckett, rhp
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