By ERIC BENEVIDES

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET -- Pawtucket Red Sox fans will be in for a real treat over the next couple of games at McCoy Stadium -- Kevin Youkilis will join the club for some rehab action.
The Boston Red Sox first baseman, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique, flew back to Boston after Saturday night’s game in Seattle against the Mariners and will be penciled in the PawSox’s lineup in tonight and tomorrow afternoon’s games against the Buffalo Bisons.   
Youkilis will serve as the designated hitter in one contest and play first base in the other, and on Wednesday, he is expected to come off the DL.
This will be Youkilis’ first venture to Pawtucket since he spent parts of three seasons (2003-05) with the PawSox. In 111 games, he hit .259 with 13 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Another position for Van Every?
An hour before the game, PawSox outfielder Jonathan Van Every was seen hanging around first base with Boston Red Sox roving infield coordinator Bruce Crabbe. Neither person had a glove, but Crabbe was demonstrating a first baseman’s footwork to Van Every and some of the position’s duties.   
Van Every, who has exclusively been an outfielder during his nine seasons in the Cleveland Indians and Red Sox organizations, will rejoin Crabbe “in the classroom” tonight and tomorrow and could be taking grounders during workouts in the near future.
“No one upstairs said, ‘Hey, we want this guy to get ground balls,’ ” added PawSox manager Ron Johnson. “It’s been something that’s been discussed over the last year and a half. He wants to do it and I think it would be great for him because it would create more value for himself.
“We know he’s a top-notch outfielder, but I think it’s a natural fit. He’s tall, he’s lefthanded, and again, it’s another asset he can bring to a team.”
Otness settles in behind the plate
Catcher John Otness, who joined the PawSox after being promoted from the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday, finally made his Triple-A debut on Sunday. He went 0-for-3 with a walk, but did a fine job defensively and threw out Jesus Feliciano in the third inning when he tried to swipe second base with one out.
He also drew praise from his starting pitcher, Michael Bowden, who tossed eight scoreless innings in Sunday’s 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Buffalo Bisons and was teammates of Otness’s the last two years in Portland.
“He stepped into a big role today and we didn’t skip a beat with him,” said Bowden. “I threw to him a lot last year, and today, I felt very comfortable.”
With starting catcher Dusty Brown needing a couple of days off to tend to a sore knee and backup catcher Carlos Maldonado landing on the seven-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain, Johnson expects to insert Otness in the lineup over the next couple of games.
“I was really pleased with him,” said Johnson. “He has a reputation as a guy who can really handle a staff, knows how to call a game, and throws the ball really well.”
Otness, a former standout for the University of Washington who signed with Boston as an undrafted free agent in 2004, spent all of the last two seasons and the first month of the season with the Sea Dogs. In 140 total games with the Dogs, he batted .245 with 57 RBIs.
PawSox’s ERA falls to 2.85
Thanks to Bowden’s strong start and the relief work turned in by southpaw Javier Lopez and righty (and winning pitcher) Jose Vaquedano, the PawSox dropped their team earned run average to 2.85, which is the second lowest in the International League behind the Gwinnett Braves’ 2.68.
Bowden also lowered his own ERA to 0.86, which gave him the IL lead and passed teammate Clay Buchholz (1.03) among the leaders.
Three other relievers, Fernando Cabrera, Vaquedano, and Marcus McBeth, also sport ERAs under 1.70.
Unfortunately for the PawSox, their team batting average of .225 is also the second lowest in the league behind the Bisons’ .212, and only two full-time players, Chris Carter (.279) and Chip Ambres (.275), are batting over .250.
“Our whole pitching staff’s throwing the heck out of the ball,” said Bowden. “Every day we go out there, we have a very good chance of winning. Our defense is playing great, and once everything starts jelling and our bats start to come alive, it’s going to be a lot of fun around here.”
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Notes: Rehabbing Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was expected to throw a bullpen session in the morning, only got in some light throwing in the outfield with PawSox pitching coach Rich Sauveur. He is expected to come off the DL later this week. … Enrique Gonzalez (5-1, 3.16) 4will seek his league-leading sixth victory of the season when he takes the mound in tonight’s 7:05 game against Buffalo’s Jon Niese (0-2, 6.55). In tomorrow’s 12:05 p.m. finale, Buchholz (2-0, 1.03) will be opposed by the Bisons’ Brandon Knight (2-3, 4.03).