Youk's a hit machine

Keeps streaking toward the top

MLB. At some point, the epic tear that Kevin Youkilis is currently enjoying could and should morph from an isolated hitting streak into the simple maturation process of a great hitter.

Youk is riding a 21-game hitting streak entering last night, during which he’s hit at a .441 clip. During that stretch, he’s watched his average soar from .280 to a Wade Boggs-esque .358, good for second in all of the AL behind Jorge Posada.

“I think he’s just a good, young, maturing hitter who is really in a groove right now,” said Sox Manager Terry Francona. “He’s hitting the ball to right field when he’s behind in the count. When they try to pitch him in, he turns on it and just gets it fair. It’s a good run that hopefully won’t end, but regardless, he’s still a good, young hitter that’s getting better.”

While a “good young hitter” can certainly go off on a good stretch for 10, 12 or even 15 days, it’s more likely that a 28-year-old is simply entering his slugging prime. Entering last night, he led the AL in multi-hit games (25) and ranks among the league leaders in runs scored (fifth with 40), hits (second with 69), doubles (third with 17), on- base percentage (third with .432) and slugging percentage (seventh with .570).

“This year, I’m just hitting the ball well and I’m relaxed up there at the plate, particularly with two strikes,” said Youk, who is hitting .337 when the count reaches two strikes this season. “Some guys get a little too excited and worry a little too much about striking out, but if you strike out, then so what?”

Youk isn’t dwelling on strikeouts or batting titles, but instead maintains his focus on each individual at-bat and refuses to give anything away to the opposing pitcher — an attribute that makes his chances of hitting .300 and living up to his boyhood hero even more likely.

“I’ve always modeled my game after Pete Rose,” said Youkilis, a fan of all things Cincinnati while growing up in the Ohio city. “The model for my game is to give all I have every single day and not to ever dog it.”