By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET – These past few weeks have made Kevin Youkilis a tad antsy. The first baseman voiced his intentions concerning sitting and watching games while waiting to get healthy, something he’s not a fan of.
The training wheels came off Monday as Youkilis (oblique strain) passed the first of two slated rehab tests. He went 0-for-2 with a walk in Pawtucket’s 9-2 setback to Buffalo. 
“I’m just excited to be back,” said Youkilis, facing the media in a brown t-shirt and jeans. “I think it (stinks) for anyone who has to go on the DL; you couldn’t pay me enough to watch baseball everyday. The reason why we sign big contracts is so we can play. Maybe some guys like to watch, but not me. When I’m done playing (career-wise) I don’t think I’ll be watching a whole lot of baseball.”
Serving as Pawtucket’s first baseman and leadoff batter, Youkilis grounded out to third in his first plate appearance, seeing five pitches. His second turn came in the third when the 30-year-old struck out swinging, this time letting four pitches go by. Youkilis’ final at-bat was a walk in the fifth. He got to move around the bases, eventually meandering over to third before getting stranded.
“A little rusty,” said Youkilis about how his turns went. “It was good to see the ball and face live pitching.”
Youkilis, who was removed in the top of the seventh, put his oblique through a trial run in the top of the third. A throw from second baseman Travis Denker resulted in Youkilis having to stretch on his left side.   
“That just tweaked my entire body. (Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson) asked if I was OK. It was a funky throw to reach out real quick, but that’s how it always happens,” Youkilis said. “It wasn’t something that lingered.”
Youkilis was originally slated to serve as the PawSox’ designated hitter, but asked Johnson to alter the plans upon checking his assignment. Johnson phoned Red Sox rehab coordinator Paul Lessard and Youkilis was granted permission. Youkilis’ preference was to play the field last night and DH for today’s matinee. If everything goes according to plan Youkilis could return to the Red Sox Wednesday, the first day he’s eligible to come off the disabled list.
“I probably won’t last the whole game, knowing the Red Sox,” Youkilis replied when asked if he expected to play nine innings on Monday. “(Today) I’ll probably take it a little easy.”
Youkilis did weigh in on the plight of BoSox teammate David Ortiz and the slugger’s recent mini-vacation over the weekend in Seattle.
“We’ve all been through it, it’s rough and tough when you’re not doing well,” said Youkilis. “You work hard, and sometimes you work too hard. He’s going to be all right; I think (Sox manager Terry Francona) did the right thing and had him sit out those three games. Just regroup and hopefully he come back and starts hitting home runs every day.”
Pawtucket held a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth inning, the result of a two-run double by Angel Chavez, owner of a .183 average coming in. Buffalo eventually tied it up before exploding for six runs in the seventh. The bulk of the damage was done against PawSox starter Enrique Gonzalez, who was tagged for five runs (four earned) in six-plus innings.
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EXTRA BASES: The four-game set with the Bisons wraps up at noon with Clay Buchholz looking to continue what has been a masterful 2009. His microscopic 1.09 ERA rates him second in the I.L. Buchholz will be opposed by George Kontos (1-1, 3.38 ERA). … The PawSox entered Monday with the second-best home record in the I.L. (11-4). … Centerfielder Jonathan Van Every flashed some leather with a nice sliding catch to his left in the fourth inning, taking away extra bases from Buffalo’s Argenis Reyes. Van Every then committed his first error with the PawSox in two seasons in the eighth when a ball glanced off his glove. 
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Buffalo        000 101 601 – 9-9-0
Pawtucket    020 000 000 – 2-5-3
Nieve (W, 1-0), McNab (7) and Cancel. Gonzalez (L, 5-2), George (6), Cherry (6) and Brown. 2B: Martinez, Feliciano, Chavez, Otness. HR: Martinez.