There's always more to the story, factors known only behind the scenes or inside the skull. But if someone had only seen Kevin Youkilis' demeanor on Tuesday night, and hadn't heard the whispers of his unhappiness, they probably wouldn't have believed the corner infielder was among those being blamed for the allegedly “toxic” atmosphere inside the Red Sox clubhouse.

The night began with Youkilis, who was playing first base, holding up infield warm-ups so the Little Leaguer who'd stood next to center fielder Ryan Kalish during the national anthem could clear the field. As the kid ran past him, Youkilis held up his hand to offer a high-five — then playfully gestured his shock when the kid ran past and left him hanging.

A couple minutes later, when umpire Jim Joyce took his position behind the first-base bag, the two engaged in a quick conversation from which Youkilis came away laughing. Then, later in the game, as the Sox were exiting the field after a quick half-inning, Youkilis dealt a little hip check to shortstop Mike Aviles as the two seemingly raced to see who could touch first base first on their way to the dugout.

And finally, after Kalish dropped the ball that allowed Reyes to reach third, the ninth-year veteran made a point of comforting and calming the young center fielder when the Sox returned to the dugout.

“Youk sat me down after that inning and I was like, 'That's the most embarrassing thing I've ever done,'” Kalish said. “He was like, 'If that's the most embarrassing thing you do, you're going to be all right.”

So — on a night when he went 1-for-4 in part because a bullet was tracked down in right field — there was evidence that Youkilis has things in some perspective. That he's not too miserable to laugh a little. That he's still having some fun with his teammates. And that he still cares enough about them, and the team, to offer his leadership.

Again, there's obviously more to the story. The moments described accounted for just a fraction of his three hours on the field, and did nothing to offset the fact that he entered Wednesday hitting .216 with little patience or power, or that his presence leaves prospect Will Middlebrooks languishing on the bench and Adrian Gonzalez playing out of position.

But they might be a reminder that, despite what a sour puss and some suppositions may suggest, if Youkilis is eventually traded, his exit from the Red Sox will likely reflect more on his bat than a bad attitude.

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Removed from the game after a broken bat foul out left him shaking his hand on Tuesday night, Dustin Pedroia was out of the Sox lineup Wednesday, but Bobby Valentine said the medical staff does not believe his second baseman did further damage to the adductor muscle in his right thumb.

“The medical staff feels it was more of a scare than than it was a real serious injury,'' said the manager, adding that Pedroia felt “good” Wednesday. Pedroia, in fact, took batting practice prior to the game against the Marlins, and told reporters he was available if needed. Pedroia missed six games when he tore the muscle on May 28.

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Earlier this season, Matt Albers had apparently made so little of an impression on Valentine that the manager repeatedly referred to his reliever as “Matty Alberts.” Even when the bullpen was in its most dire shambles, he pitched just once in Boston's first 10 games.

But the burly righty has done his best to make his manager take notice. And it appears to have worked. Entering Wednesday, Albers had allowed only 28 walks and hits in 28 2/3 innings of work, and after retiring the fearsome tandem of Hanley Ramirez and Giancarlo Stanton to leave Jose Reyes at third after Kalish's three-base error on Tuesday night, his ERA was at 1.88. As a result, five of his eight previous appearances have come in the seventh inning or later, with the Sox either tied or leading by fewer than three runs.

Those are responsibilities similar to what Albers earned from Terry Francona in 2011, which means Valentine may need to be careful with how much he uses the setup man. Through his first 50 outings last year, Albers had a 2.15 ERA; over his final 19 games, though, he sported an 11.09. What's concerning is that he's thrown 5 2/3 more innings than he had through 67 Sox games last season — but so far he says he's strong.

“I feel good,” said the 29-year-old whose career ERA is 3.79 before the all-star break, and 6.21 after. “I think I've just been able to throw my sinker down and away to righties, and also bring it inside, and also the breaking ball. I'm making pitches right now, and the defense is making plays.”

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After being charged with his second loss in six days, and blowing his third save in six chances, Alfredo Aceves was unshaken by his recent struggles when he met the media on June 10. In fact, he didn't think he was struggling at all.

“I feel good,” said the righty. “It's not easy to throw that speed — that's the good thing. We lost, but I'm not going with that. I'm going with the good things. I'm going to stick with that I'm getting better. And I feel sorry for the other teams.”

It seemed overly optimistic, considering his ERA was 7 over the two previous weeks. But if the closer really equates getting better with throwing harder, he's improving by leaps and bounds this season.

In locking down his 17th save on Tuesday night, three of the eight fastballs Aceves threw registered at least 96 mph on the radar gun, with the whole lot averaging better than 95. Last year Aceves set a career-high by averaging 92.1 mph with his heater, but that's up to 94.2 this season — perhaps a product of the adrenaline boost that comes with closing, or maybe a result of the 29-year-old's improved conditioning.

Either way, it's a weapon that's getting better.

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Despite an excellent month, Clay Buchholz's 5.53 ERA is still eighth-worst among baseball's 108 qualifying pitchers. It's a product of his inconsistency — however, if you're looking for a harbinger of how Buchholz's night is going to go, look no further than the number of swings and misses he generates.

In the nine starts in which he's allowed at least four runs, he's averaging six per game (54 total); in the five starts in which he's yielded three runs or less, he's averaging 11 whiffs per tilt (55 total).

Dave D'Onofrio covers the Red Sox for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. His e-mail address is ddonof13@gmail.com.