Yankees 0 - 4 Red Sox
Final
  for this game

Beckett shines as Red Sox top Yankees

Apr 11, 2011 - 5:35 AM

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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Josh Beckett struck out 10 in eight dominant innings, leading the Red Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Yankees in the rubber match of their three-game series.

Beckett (1-1) allowed only two hits and walked just one in his second start of the season. In his first outing, Tuesday against Cleveland, he pitched just five innings and gave up three runs.

But he shut New York down on Sunday, keeping Boston in front until its offense created some breathing room. Marco Scutaro hit a key two-run double in the seventh to help Boston win the series after it started the year 0-6.

In contrast to Beckett, Yankees starter and ace CC Sabathia (0-1) struggled in 5 2/3 innings. Though he allowed only one run, he gave up nine hits and walked four.

"It was pretty much not being able to get ahead," Sabathia said. "Even when I did get ahead it turned around, the count ended up being 2-1; a lot of hitters counts."

He also fanned four as New York failed to build on Saturday's 9-4 victory. The Yankees have won consecutive games just once this season -- two victories against Detroit to open the season.

Boston put two men on in the first and second innings, but Sabathia managed to escape both situations.

Sabathia looked like he might get out of a big jam in the third, when the Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out. The Yankees left-hander got David Ortiz to ground into a double play, but Mike Cameron followed with an infield single to bring Dustin Pedroia home and make it a 1-0 game.

The Red Sox had the bases loaded again in the sixth, when Sabathia was pulled and Joba Chamberlain entered to get the final out.

However, Boston got to Chamberlain in the next inning. Chamberlain walked Ortiz and J.D. Drew around a strikeout of Cameron, and Jason Varitek singled to fill the bases once more. Scutaro made Chamberlain pay by doubling to left.

After Beckett finished his outing by setting the Yankees down in order in the eighth, Ortiz hit an RBI double in the bottom half. Jonathan Papelbon worked a scoreless ninth to secure the win.

Game Notes

The Red Sox were 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 16 on base...Beckett improved to 11-7 in 23 career starts against the Yankees...Sabathia is 6-6 in 16 lifetime starts vs. the Red Sox.






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