Red Sox Beat Phillies Behind Stellar Beckett (20-21)

Beckett pitched very well today

After a long hiatus from good baseball, the Red Sox are finally back to just one game below the .500 mark. The Red Sox started off this game in exactly the same way as they started the last one when Mike Aviles whacked a home run to left to lead off the game. The Red Sox got right back into scoring position in the second inning when they put runners at first and second with two outs. Once again, it was Mike Aviles who delivered when he lined a ball into left field to score a run and give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. After a pair of 1-2-3 innings for Josh Beckett, the Red Sox continued to produce off of Cliff Lee in the third inning. The inning started off when David Ortiz lined a ball directly into the shift. However, the Red Sox continued to hit the ball hard in the inning and it paid off when an Adrian Gonzalez single and Will Middlebrooks double put two runners in scoring position with one out.

He allowed a run in 7.2 innings

Jarrod Saltalamacchia immediately hit the biggest blow of the day when he crushed a high fly ball into center field for a three-run homer. Several scoreless innings ensued until the Red Sox got a little shock from Josh Beckett in the top of the seventh. On a pitch from Cliff Lee, he drove a ball off the wall in left-center field. It would only be a single, but it's always nice to see an American League Pitcher hitting balls hard off of one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Red Sox didn't score in the inning, or for the rest of the game. Beckett continued to pitch well but the Phillies finally got to him in the bottom of the eighth. They put runners at second and third before a sacrifice fly by Juan Pierre netted them their first run of the game. That made it 5-1, and Josh Beckett would be taken out of the game with a line of 7.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K-- he would earn the win and the Sox won 5-1.

Bright Spots:
Josh Beckett- 7.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K, W (4-4)
Alfredo Aceves- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Mike Aviles- 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Adrian Gonzalez- 2-4, 1 R
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Dull Spots:
David Ortiz- 0-4, 1 K, 1 LOB

Player of the Game:
Josh Beckett- Beckett pitched a fantastic ballgame today, earning the win after allowing just a run in 7.2 strong innings as he becomes 4-4/4.38/40 on the season.