Red Sox 4, Yankees 0
Josh Beckett eased the memories of the Boston Red Sox’ miserable start by blanking the visiting New York Yankees in a 4-0 victory Sunday night to help the Sox take two of three from their rivals over the weekend series.
Beckett (1-0) silenced the best home-run hitting team in baseball, allowing just two hits with 10 strikeouts in eight scoreless innings — his longest outing since last Aug. 3, and career high in Ks against New York.
The right-hander operated in a close game most of the night, as Mike Cameron’s infield hit scored Dustin Pedroia in the third to make it 1-0. It wasn’t until Marco Scutaro tagged Joba Chamberlain for a two-run RBI double in the seventh that Boston (2-7) gained breathing room, and David Ortiz added an RBI double in the eighth.
Jonathan Papelbon retired the Yankees (5-4) in order in the ninth for his second save.
CC Sabathia (0-1) labored through 5 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on nine hits and four walks.
The Red Sox were primed for a rout of their rivals, putting runners in scoring position in five of the first six innings, but they stranded 16 runners. Pedroia led Boston to its first series win of the season, recording three hits in every game.