Youkilis, the Cincinnati native getting his first start in his hometown, struck out in his first two at-bats but came back with two singles before launching the go-ahead homer to right-center field off reliever Mike Lincoln (0-2), and the Red Sox edged the Reds, 6-4, in 10 innings at Great American Ball Park.
"It was definitely a great home run, and just to be able to hit a Major League home run here in Cincinnati, something I've never done, having never played here, it was definitely exciting," Youkilis said. "But other than a personal thing, it was great for this team to get back on track and get a win."
"I think he's excited, naturally. I think he handles things real well," added manager Terry Francona. "I know he was very excited, though. I don't blame him, he ought to be. I wish we had three positions where he could have played Friday night."
The Red Sox, who improved to 15-21 on the road, conclude their series in the Queen City on Sunday.
"We needed to get a win here and get some wins on the road, have a good series and have a chance to win the series," Youkilis said. "It was definitely a good thrill to be able to hit a home run in that situation, and also to hit it here in Cincinnati is a great honor and great thrill because, who knows, I might never get to play here after [Sunday], and if I don't hit a home run [on Sunday], that might be my only one here."
Coco Crisp followed immediately with a solo homer of his own, helping the short-handed Red Sox overcome a rare blown save from Jonathan Papelbon (3-2) to even their Interleague series with the Reds.
"We had heard this ballpark plays really small. I agree," Francona said. "Youk took a great swing, and so did Coco."
Craig Hansen pitched the 10th for his first career save. He retired the first two batters before Jolbert Cabrera singled and Ken Griffey Jr. walked, but he got Brandon Phillips to fly out to right to seal the win.
"I had no clue," Hansen said. "When I was walking off the field, someone told me, and then it clicked. Drew gave me the ball, the popout, which everyone else in the stands thought was a home run."
Leading, 4-3, entering the ninth, the Red Sox and Papelbon were one strike away from a victory when Edwin Encarnacion, who fouled off two pitches back to the screen, lined a hanging splitter to left for a game-tying homer.
"I could have used the Green Monster today, he could have helped," said Papelbon of the line drive, which likely would not have cleared the left-field wall at Fenway. "I've been getting into this little funk lately where I'm not finishing my split. I've got to execute a pitch with two strikes, and put the guy away and win the ballgame. It's really that simple.
"Any big league hitter nowadays is going to make you pay for a pitch like that," he added. "It's right down the middle, hanging."
Francona, meanwhile, tipped his cap to the hitter.
"Encarnacion's at-bat against Pap was a good at-bat," he said. "He threw him every pitch he had. He couldn't get his fastball by him, throws him a split that was up too much, and all of sudden, here we go, we've got to keep playing, but the good news is we kept playing.
"And in that situation, where we're down to one strike and then all of sudden you've got to keep playing in the visitor's ballpark in extra innings, we did some good things."
It was Papelbon's third blown save and first since May 9. But thanks to Youkilis, Crisp and Hansen, he was credited with the win. He thanked Hansen afterward.
"I told him after the game, 'Way to pick me up and this ballclub up,' " Papelbon said. "He came into a situation where he battled through it and willed himself to keep that win for our ballclub."
In addition to David Ortiz, the Red Sox started the game without starters Manny Ramirez (right hamstring), Jason Varitek (strep) and Julio Lugo (stomach ailment), and without the DH in a National League city.
Ramirez pinch-hit for Papelbon in the 10th and struck out on three pitches. He did not stay in the game.
Starter Tim Wakefield allowed two solo home runs and struck out six over seven innings, and his offense scratched across three runs against Reds ace and nine-game winner Edinson Volquez, who recorded his 11th straight quality start.
"We definitely faced a great pitcher who had some great stuff, and we had to get him out of the game," Youkilis said.
Wakefield's highlight came in the second inning, when Phillips stole second with the Red Sox in a shift against Adam Dunn and no one covering third. But Wakefield made his way over to third in time to catch Phillips, who was trying to steal two bases on one pitch.
Dunn homered in the same at-bat for his 18th of the season and second in as many days.
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