Youkilis And Drew On Rehab Assignments; Sox Trade For Conor Jackson; Kalish Having Surgery

Kevin Youkilis homered in his second rehab game for Pawtucket on Wednesday night. Yook went 1-for-4 with a walk as the DH on Tuesday. He can be activated on Friday, when the Red Sox begin a weekend series at home against the Rangers.

J.D. Drew sprained his right middle finger in that same Tuesday night game (while going 3-for-3). Theo Epstein said Drew would be examined at Fenway Park on Thursday: "We don't think it's anything major. We'll see what happens."

The Red Sox have traded for Oakland's OF/1B Conor Jackson. Jackson, 29, is hitting .249/.315/.342/.658 this year in 102 games. He has hit lefties better (.825 OPS) than righties over his career, but his last solid year against LHP was 2008.

WEEI's Alex Speier reports that Ryan Kalish has a bulging disc in his neck that is impinging a nerve -- "resulting in the persistent pain and soreness in his upper trapezius muscle and neck" -- and will have surgery on Thursday. Kalish played 22 games for Pawtucket this season (.209/.271/.279).

The Red Sox signed Joey Gathright, who had been playing with the independent Yuma Scorpions, and assigned him to Pawtucket. Gathright last played in the majors in 2009, when he appeared in 17 games with the Red Sox. In 2010, he had a pitiful .487 OPS in 61 games with Norfolk (Orioles AAA) (.185/.255/.222).

From Gary Marbry's Nuggetpalooza!:

Dustin Pedroia leads MLB with a [.389] batting average against LHP.

The Red Sox are 9-for-9 on steals of third base this season. Only three AL teams since 1950 have stolen third as many as nine times without being caught: 1994 Orioles (13-for-13), 1980 Royals (11-for-11) 2003 Athletics (9-for-9).

Adrian Gonzalez has 22 3+-hit games this season. Wade Boggs has the top three seasons in team history: 28 in 1988, 26 in 1985, and 24 in 1983. Johnny Pesky also had 24 games in 1946.

Boston hitters have forced opposing pitchers into a 3-and-0 count at least once in [123 of their 135 games this year (91.1%)], the highest percentage in the majors.