MLB

Beckett dazzles again

LexisNexis Feed TheBostonHerald
Share This Story

Updated Jun 27, 2009 4:30 PM ET
     
 
RED SOX 4, Braves 1 ATLANTA - Facing Josh Beckett is tough enough for the Atlanta Braves, but last night they upped the degree of difficulty by gift-wrapping two runs for the pitcher's teammates. Beckett tossed seven shutout innings, extending his scoreless streak to 16 against the Braves this season, and the Red Sox took advantage of a passed ball and two balks to score half of their runs in a 4-1 win. In improving to 9-3 overall, Beckett ran his lifetime record against the Braves to 6-0 with a 0.38 ERA in his last seven starts. He shut them out in a complete-game effort last Saturday at Fenway Park. Two balks by Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens and a passed ball by batterymate David Ross led to insurance runs for the Sox , who won for the 12th time in 16 games. Lifted after 98 pitches, Beckett got relief help from Hideki Okajima, who struck out the 3-4-5 hitters in the eighth after allowing the first two batters to reach. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth, giving up a solo homer to Ross. Beckett didn't have much offensive support early, but the way he was knifing through the Atlanta lineup, it was enough as the Sox took a 2-0 lead into the eighth in the final interleague series of the season. Leading 1-0, the Sox manufactured a run in the sixth to double their lead with some help from the Braves. Dustin Pedroia led off by hitting a chopper between third and short which seemed to find a dead spot in the Atlanta infield and roll past shortstop Diory Hernandez's glove and onto the grass in shallow left. Pedroia, running hard down the line, saw the ball lying in center and made a hard left turn, hustling into second with an infield double. With J.D. Drew at the plate, Jurrjens spun around to keep Pedroia close and was called for a balk. Drew then hit a roller to second, scoring Pedroia with ease. An inning earlier, David Ortiz' solo shot leading off the inning - a prodigious clout to right, just to the right of the Atlanta bullpen. It was Ortiz' eighth homer of the season, seventh in his last 21 games and second of the road trip. It also inched him closer to the 300-homer plateau for his career. Ortiz now needs just three more to become the 18th active player to reach that milestone. Until Ortiz' blast, the Sox hadn't done much against Jurrjens. A leadoff single in the fourth by Drew and a two-out walk to Jason Varitek represented the Sox' only baserunners through four innings. Beckett, meanwhile, had to work himself out of a few jams in the early innings. Hernandez shot a double to the left-center field gap to open the third, and one out later, Beckett plunked leadoff hitter Nate McLouth, giving the Braves two on and one out. But a fielder's choice by Martin Prado forced McLouth at second and Beckett then fired a called third strike fastball past Chipper Jones. - smcadam@bostonherald.com
Tagged: David Ortiz, Red Sox, Jair Jurrjens, David Ross, Nate McLouth, Dustin Pedroia, Braves, Josh Beckett

Related Stories

FOX Fantasy Baseball Game 2012


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

MLB Videos

Morosi: AL spring training headlines Posted: Feb 09, 2012
FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi discusses all the AL headlines heading into spri...

Morosi: NL spring training headlines Posted: Feb 09, 2012
FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi discusses all the NL headlines going into spring...

MLB2K12 - Verlander on Verlander Posted: Feb 08, 2012
Justin Verlander loses his mind playing himself on MLB2K12.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »
SimLeague Baseball - Simulation Baseball Game

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Cubs/browse/featuredproduct/250780/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_250000/FF_250780_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue
    Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Red_Sox/browse/featuredproduct/605356/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605356_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt
    New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Yankees/browse/featuredproduct/605557/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605557_xl.jpg&w=100 16.95 New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat
    Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Oakland_Athletics/browse/featuredproduct/606322/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_606000/ff_606322_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt
    Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Philadelphia_Phillies/browse/featuredproduct/626447/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_626000/ff_626447_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet
    New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Colorado_Rockies/browse/featuredproduct/644117/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_644000/ff_644117_xl.jpg&w=100 28.95 New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat
    Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Texas_Rangers/browse/featuredproduct/722692/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_722000/ff_722692_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch
    Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/723016/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_723000/ff_723016_xl.jpg&w=100 39.95 Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoo..
    Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim/browse/featuredproduct/777026/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_777000/ff_777026_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft