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Beckett Loses No-Hitter, Beats Tigers

Josh Beckett was dazzling on the mound Wednesday night, going the first six frames without allowing a hit. Usually in a no-hitter, you start thinking about it after four innings, and you get excited after six. If he made it through seven, then the pressure really is on, but Beckett allowed a hit with two outs in the inning. he finished with two hits allowed and three unearned runs and nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

The Sox piled on six runs in the eighth inning to take a 10-0 lead, thanks in large part to a clutch hit from David Ortiz. That’s right, he finally delivered in the clutch. Papi slammed a bases loaded double, scoring two runs. The Tigers scored five unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning, but it was not enough in a 10-5 win for the Red Sox.

Kevin Youkilis suffered a freak injury in the eighth inning when he was stretching for the out on a ground ball. Baserunner Josh Anderson leaped for first to beat the throw, and he landed on the back of Youk’s ankle with his cleats. Youk left the game, but Terry Francona said he only suffered a bruise, which is good news for Sox fans.

Sox Stud of the Game

David Ortiz, DH – Despite going 1-4, Ortiz delivered the straw that broke the camel’s back, turning a 5-0 lead into a 7-0 lead with a clutch two-run bases loaded double in the eighth inning. Hey, he also did not strike out! It’s the first positive sign we’ve seen from Papi since his home run in late May.

Sox Dud(s) of the Game

Red Sox Defense, 2B/SS/3B: The Sox finished with three errors, including a Dustin Pedroia two-out error in the eighth inning that directly led to five unearned runs. Good thing the Sox had a 10-0 lead.

Game Notes

W: Josh Beckett (6-2)
L: Armando Galaragga (3-6)

• After Youkilis was forced to leave the game, Francona subbed in Mark Kotsay to play right field, and then switched him to first base to bring in Rocco Baldelli. It was Kotsay’s first game of the season.
• Every Sox starter had a hit (three had two hits), and four players had two RBI each (J.D. Drew, Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, Nick Green).
• Beckett lowered his season ERA to 4.09.

Tags: David Ortiz, Detroit Tigers, Dustin Pedroia, Josh Beckett, Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox

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