The Associated Press

BOSTON - Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Friday to help relieve symptoms of an arthritic condition.

The defending AL batting champion is expected to be out for six weeks.

Catcher/first baseman Andy Dominique was recalled from Pawtucket. Rookie third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who played for the University of Cincinnati, will take over at third, manager Terry Francona said.

Mueller is the third injured Boston starter. Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra (foot) and outfielder Trot Nixon (back, leg) have not played yet this season, although Nixon has progressed enough to play in extended spring training games.

Youkilis has six hits in as many games since being called up from Pawtucket.

TRIAL DATE: An October trial date was set Tuesday for two former New York Yankees accused of attacking a Fenway Park groundskeeper after he cheered for the Red Sox in the Yankees bullpen during last year's playoffs.

Roxbury District Court Judge Edward Redd set an Oct. 26 trial date for pitcher Jeff Nelson and outfielder Karim Garcia, who both face assault and battery charges in the alleged attack on Paul Williams Jr., of Derry, N.H.

The trial is scheduled to start the day of Game 4 of the World Series. If either player is involved in the World Series, "that's something we'll address at that time," Procopio said.

BIG CAT HEALTHY: Andres Galarraga has beaten cancer for a second time and is hoping to get back to the major leagues.

Galarraga said Tuesday that he recently underwent two three-week periods of chemotherapy and was hospitalized for 23 days for additional treatment for the same non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that sidelined him in 1999 when he was with the Atlanta Braves.

He said he was pronounced fit last week after a checkup at a Chicago medical facility.

Galarraga, who is 42 years old, said wants to get back to the majors so he can reach 400 home runs. In 18 seasons, Galarraga has 398 homers. The first baseman known as "The Big Cat" hit .301 last season with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants.

SHORT HOPS: Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton missed his fourth straight start Tuesday night with a sore back and probably won't return to the lineup until the weekend.

• Red Sox pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim flew home to South Korea on Tuesday to see a doctor for his sore back. Kim planned to be gone about a week, Red Sox spokesman Glenn Geffner said.