PORTLAND – Add Kevin Youkilis to the list of the walking wounded in the Portland Sea Dogs’ clubhouse.

Youkilis was not in the starting line-up for the second straight night as the Sea Dogs closed out their homestand against the Reading Phillies Thursday night.

The 24-year old third baseman felt some pain in his right shoulder during warm-ups prior to Wednesday night’s game.

“He’s doing pretty good,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson. “He’s got a little inflammation. I don’t expect him to be down for very long.”

Youkilis has reached base in each of the 17 games he has played. He leads the Eastern League with a .506 on-base percentage.

The Sea Dogs have already placed five players on the disabled list.

In addition, catcher/designated hitter Andy Dominique is day-to-day with a groin strain.

There is some good news.

First baseman Dustin Brisson is close to returning from the high ankle sprain that landed him on the DL on April 21.

“We got him on the field (Wednesday) and he was moving around pretty good,” said Johnson.

With the recent additions of Trace Coquellette, Kevin Haverbusch and Tony Schrager, there could be a logjam when guys start getting healthy.

“It’s going to get crowded,” said Johnson. “But you know what? That’s a good thing.”

High on Nieves

Johnson was still raving about the job done by shortstop Raul Nieves, who went 4-for-7 Wednesday night and was in the middle of both the three-run rally to tie the game in the 11th inning and the 12th inning outburst to win it.

“He’s been big for us every night,” said Johnson. “It’s uncanny. If something happens, he’s usually involved in it.”

After starting the season on the bench, Nieves has taken advantage of the opportunity that arose when both of Portland’s starting infielders, second baseman Carlos Leon and shortstop Nelson Castro, went down with injuries.

Nieves was hitting .340 heading into Thursday night’s game.

“When he’s out there, I feel like we’re going to win,” said Johnson.

Emotional roller coaster

Schrager was back in the starting line-up at third base after experiencing just about every emotion on the spectrum Wednesday night in his first game as a Sea Dog.

Acquired by the Red Sox from the Chicago Cubs last Friday, Schrager learned he had been promoted to Portland after playing for Class-A Sarasota in Lakeland, Fla., Tuesday night.

After an hour and a half cab ride put him back at his Sarasota apartment at 2:30 a.m., the Stanford grad did laundry and slept a couple of hours before heading North.

Starting because of Youkilis’ injury, Schrager atoned for three errors with the game-winning base hit in the bottom of the 12th inning.

As he stood talking with reporters after the game, teammate Kelly Shoppach came by.

“There’s my hero,” said Shoppach, who made two errors in Reading’s three-run 11th inning. “He got me off the hook.”

“I got myself off the hook,” added Schrager.

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