--LHP Hideki Okajima owns the lowest ERA for a left-handed reliever in major league history for a pitcher with at least 70 innings pitched. The Japanese bullpen import has had some shaky moments lately but still is enjoying a brilliant first half similar to the one that propelled him to an American League All-Star berth last season.

--OF Coco Crisp underwent a battery of tests at Mass General Hospital to determine the cause of the nausea and headaches that forced him to leave a game in Baltimore and have kept him out of the lineup since. Manager Terry Francona said that "all the bad stuff" had been ruled out during the hospital checkup but added that Crisp would likely need a few more days of recovery before getting into game action.

--1B Kevin Youkilis went into the weekend series tied for the major league lead in doubles with seven this month to go along with an American league-best six home runs, 15 RBI and an .827 slugging percentage. Youkilis has gained a reputation for being a fast starter and is eager to maintain his offensive production well into the dog days of summer.

--SS Alex Cora has been on fire since coming off the 15-day disabled list on Sunday and has filled in nicely for injured SS Julio Lugo over the last week. The utility infielder is 6-for-16 with an RBI over four starts at shortstop and hadn't received a night off before Friday night's postponement. Cora was out almost a month because of a sprained right elbow but is once again proving his value as one of the best utility infielders in the game.

--2B Dustin Pedroia is riding an eight-game hitting streak during which he's hit .333 (11-for-33) and leads the American League in hits, games played and at-bats. Pedroia is tied for the most multi-hit games in the AL this season but has gone nine straight games without an extra-base hit.

BY THE NUMBERS
2-9 -- The Red Sox record in domes this season through the end of last weekend. The record includes getting swept in both the Rogers Centre in Toronto and Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Depends on what you're trying to do. If you're looking to get paid, you hit more home runs. I'm just trying to take a good swing at the ball. It's just happening." -- 1B Kevin Youkilis, talking about his power surge after hitting four home runs in four days against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

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