AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">BOSTON (8) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Ellsbury lf 4 2 2 0 1 1 1 .372 D Pedroia 2b 2 2 1 0 1 0 1 .318 D Ortiz dh 5 1 3 4 0 2 1 .322 M Lowell 3b 5 1 1 1 0 3 4 .326 B Kielty rf 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 .235 J Varitek c 4 1 1 1 0 2 3 .252 C Crisp cf 3 0 0 0 1 3 6 .268 a-B Moss ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .217 J Lugo ss 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 .238 E Hinske 1b 4 1 0 0 0 3 2 .211 Totals 35 8 9 6 6 17 19 a-tripled to deep right center for C Crisp in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - J Ellsbury (5, S Kazmir). 3B - B Moss (1, G Balfour). HR - J Varitek (14, 8th inning off G Glover 0 on, 0 Out), D Ortiz (32, 9th inning off J Ridgway 2 on, 0 Out), M Lowell (20, 9th inning off G Balfour 0 on, 0 Out). S - D Pedroia. RBI - D Ortiz 4 (111), J Varitek (64), M Lowell (110). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Hinske 1, C Crisp 4, J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 10. BASERUNNING: SB - C Crisp (27, 2nd base off S Kazmir/D Navarro). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .282 G Norton dh 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 .227 C Pena 1b 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .275 B Upton cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .307 D Young rf 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 .292 J Gomes lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .247 D Navarro c 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228 J Velandia 2b 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .556 J Wilson ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .259 Totals 28 1 4 1 2 11 8 BATTING: 2B - D Young (37, J Beckett). RBI - D Young (91). 2-out RBI - D Young. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Gomes 3. Team LOB - 5. FIELDING: E - D Navarro 2 (12, throw 2). ---------------------------------------------------- BOSTON - 102 000 014 -- 8 TAMPA BAY - 100 000 00 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett 6 4 1 1 2 8 0 3.14 M Delcarmen 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.20 J Lopez 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.97 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era S Kazmir 5 4 3 2 4 9 0 3.54 J Switzer 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 8.79 S Dohmann 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.41 G Glover 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 5.18 J Ridgway 0 1 3 3 1 0 1 ### G Balfour 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 6.75 J Ridgway pitched to 3 batters in the 9th. WP - S Kazmir. HBP - E Hinske (by S Kazmir); J Varitek (by S Kazmir); D Pedroia (by J Ridgway). Pitches-strikes: J Beckett 113-78; M Delcarmen 16-10; J Lopez 6-5; S Kazmir 91-54; J Switzer 8-5; S Dohmann 19-13; G Glover 23-15; J Ridgway 13-6; G Balfour 33-19. Ground balls-fly balls: J Beckett 5-5; M Delcarmen 1-1; J Lopez 1-0; S Kazmir 1-5; J Switzer 0-2; S Dohmann 1-0; G Glover 0-1; J Ridgway 0-0; G Balfour 0-0. Batters faced: J Beckett 24; M Delcarmen 4; J Lopez 2; S Kazmir 25; J Switzer 3; S Dohmann 4; G Glover 4; J Ridgway 3; G Balfour 6. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Mike Dimuro. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Ellsbury in center field. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 8 TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Upton (.307, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Moss in left field. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 8 TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Upton (.307, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - PITCHING CHANGE BOS: ERIC GAGNE (3-2, 4.18) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 8, TAMPA BAY 1 DUE UP FOR TAMPABAY: B UPTON (.307, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: E Gagne relieved J Lopez. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 8 TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Upton (.307, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Ruggiano hit for J Gomes. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 8 TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J Ruggiano (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BOSTON 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 8 9 0 TAMPA BAY 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 2 (FINAL) BATTERIES: BOS - JOSH BECKETT, MANNY DELCARMEN (7TH), JAVIER LOPEZ (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR, JON SWITZER (6TH), SCOTT DOHMANN (6TH), GARY GLOVER (8TH), JEFF RIDGWAY (9TH), GRANT BALFOUR (9TH) AND DIONER NAVARRO HOME RUNS: BOS - JASON VARITEK (14) OFF GARY GLOVER IN THE 8TH, 0 ON DAVID ORTIZ (32) OFF JEFF RIDGWAY IN THE 9TH, 2 ON MIKE LOWELL (20) OFF GRANT BALFOUR IN THE 9TH, 0 ON TAM - NONE</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BOSTON 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 8 9 0 TAMPA BAY 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 2 (FINAL) BATTERIES: BOS - JOSH BECKETT, MANNY DELCARMEN (7TH), JAVIER LOPEZ (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR, JON SWITZER (6TH), SCOTT DOHMANN (6TH), GARY GLOVER (8TH), JEFF RIDGWAY (9TH), GRANT BALFOUR (9TH) AND DIONER NAVARRO WP - JOSH BECKETT (20-6) LP - SCOTT KAZMIR (13-9) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: BOS - JASON VARITEK (14) OFF GARY GLOVER IN THE 8TH, 0 ON DAVID ORTIZ (32) OFF JEFF RIDGWAY IN THE 9TH, 2 ON MIKE LOWELL (20) OFF GRANT BALFOUR IN THE 9TH, 0 ON TAM - NONE TIME: 3:23 ATT: 27,369 PROBABLES: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (14-12, 4.41) TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE (6-9, 5.68)</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">BOSTON (8) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - FINAL BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Ellsbury lf-cf 4 2 2 0 1 1 1 .372 D Pedroia 2b 2 2 1 0 1 0 1 .318 D Ortiz dh 5 1 3 4 0 2 1 .322 M Lowell 3b 5 1 1 1 0 3 4 .326 B Kielty rf 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 .235 J Varitek c 4 1 1 1 0 2 3 .252 C Crisp cf 3 0 0 0 1 3 6 .268 a-B Moss ph-lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .217 J Lugo ss 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 .238 E Hinske 1b 4 1 0 0 0 3 2 .211 Totals 35 8 9 6 6 17 19 a-tripled to deep right center for C Crisp in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - J Ellsbury (5, S Kazmir). 3B - B Moss (1, G Balfour). HR - J Varitek (14, 8th inning off G Glover 0 on, 0 Out), D Ortiz (32, 9th inning off J Ridgway 2 on, 0 Out), M Lowell (20, 9th inning off G Balfour 0 on, 0 Out). S - D Pedroia. RBI - D Ortiz 4 (111), J Varitek (64), M Lowell (110). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Hinske 1, C Crisp 4, J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 10. BASERUNNING: SB - C Crisp (27, 2nd base off S Kazmir/D Navarro). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .282 G Norton dh 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 .227 C Pena 1b 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .275 B Upton cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .306 D Young rf 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .292 J Gomes lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .247 a-J Ruggiano ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 D Navarro c 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228 J Velandia 2b 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 .556 J Wilson ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .259 Totals 31 1 4 1 2 13 8 a-struck out swinging for J Gomes in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - D Young (37, J Beckett). RBI - D Young (91). 2-out RBI - D Young. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Gomes 3. Team LOB - 5. FIELDING: E - D Navarro 2 (12, throw 2). ---------------------------------------------------- BOSTON - 102 000 014 -- 8 TAMPA BAY - 100 000 000 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett (W, 20-6) 6 4 1 1 2 8 0 3.14 M Delcarmen (H, 10) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.20 J Lopez (H, 15) 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.97 E Gagne 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.10 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era S Kazmir (L, 13-9) 5 4 3 2 4 9 0 3.54 J Switzer 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 8.79 S Dohmann 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.41 G Glover 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 5.18 J Ridgway 0 1 3 3 1 0 1 ### G Balfour 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 6.75 J Ridgway pitched to 3 batters in the 9th. WP - S Kazmir. HBP - E Hinske (by S Kazmir); J Varitek (by S Kazmir); D Pedroia (by J Ridgway). Pitches-strikes: J Beckett 113-78; M Delcarmen 16-10; J Lopez 6-5; E Gagne 12-9; S Kazmir 91-54; J Switzer 8-5; S Dohmann 19-13; G Glover 23-15; J Ridgway 13-6; G Balfour 33-19. Ground balls-fly balls: J Beckett 5-5; M Delcarmen 1-1; J Lopez 1-0; E Gagne 1-0; S Kazmir 1-5; J Switzer 0-2; S Dohmann 1-0; G Glover 0-1; J Ridgway 0-0; G Balfour 0-0. Batters faced: J Beckett 24; M Delcarmen 4; J Lopez 2; E Gagne 3; S Kazmir 25; J Switzer 3; S Dohmann 4; G Glover 4; J Ridgway 3; G Balfour 6. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Mike Dimuro. T--3:23. Att--27,369. Weather: INDOORS</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOSTON (8) AT TAMPA BAY (1) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOSTON 1ST: J Ellsbury doubled to right. D Pedroia sacrificed to pitcher, J Ellsbury to third. J Ellsbury scored on throwing error by catcher D Navarro. D Ortiz struck out swinging. M Lowell struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) BOSTON 1, TAMPA BAY 0. TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura struck out swinging. G Norton walked. C Pena walked, G Norton to second. B Upton lined out to right. D Young doubled to right, G Norton scored, C Pena to third. J Gomes struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 3RD: E Hinske hit by pitch. J Ellsbury struck out swinging. D Pedroia walked, E Hinske to second. D Ortiz singled to right, E Hinske scored, D Pedroia to third. M Lowell struck out swinging. D Pedroia scored, D Ortiz to second on wild pitch by S Kazmir. B Kielty walked. J Varitek hit by pitch, D Ortiz to third, B Kielty to second. C Crisp struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 8TH: G Glover relieved S Dohmann. J Varitek homered to right. C Crisp struck out swinging. J Lugo lined out to right. E Hinske struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 9TH: J Ridgway relieved G Glover. J Ellsbury walked. D Pedroia hit by pitch, J Ellsbury to second. D Ortiz homered to left, J Ellsbury and D Pedroia scored. G Balfour relieved J Ridgway. M Lowell homered to left. B Kielty struck out swinging. J Varitek struck out swinging. B Moss hit for C Crisp. B Moss tripled to deep right center. J Lugo walked. E Hinske struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 8, TAMPA BAY 1.</div>
AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOSTON (8) AT TAMPA BAY (1) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boston Starting Lineups -- J Ellsbury LF, D Pedroia 2B, D Ortiz DH, M Lowell 3B, B Kielty RF, J Varitek C, C Crisp CF, J Lugo SS, E Hinske 1B, J Beckett RHP. Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- A Iwamura 3B, G Norton DH, C Pena 1B, B Upton CF, D Young RF, J Gomes LF, D Navarro C, J Velandia 2B, J Wilson SS, S Kazmir LHP. Umpires -- Bill Welke (HP), John Hirschbeck (1B), Laz Diaz (2B), Mike Dimuro (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. BOSTON 1ST: J Ellsbury doubled to right. D Pedroia sacrificed to pitcher, J Ellsbury to third. J Ellsbury scored on throwing error by catcher D Navarro. D Ortiz struck out swinging. M Lowell struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) BOSTON 1, TAMPA BAY 0. TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura struck out swinging. G Norton walked. C Pena walked, G Norton to second. B Upton lined out to right. D Young doubled to right, G Norton scored, C Pena to third. J Gomes struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 2ND: B Kielty flied out to left. J Varitek fouled out to third. C Crisp walked. C Crisp stole second, C Crisp safe at third on throwing error by catcher D Navarro. J Lugo struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 1, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 2ND: D Navarro flied out to left. J Velandia singled to right. J Wilson popped out to second. A Iwamura grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Velandia out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 1, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 3RD: E Hinske hit by pitch. J Ellsbury struck out swinging. D Pedroia walked, E Hinske to second. D Ortiz singled to right, E Hinske scored, D Pedroia to third. M Lowell struck out swinging. D Pedroia scored, D Ortiz to second on wild pitch by S Kazmir. B Kielty walked. J Varitek hit by pitch, D Ortiz to third, B Kielty to second. C Crisp struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 3RD: G Norton flied out to center. C Pena struck out looking. B Upton singled to center. D Young singled to right, B Upton to third. J Gomes grounded into fielder's choice to third, D Young out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 4TH: J Lugo flied out to right. E Hinske struck out swinging. J Ellsbury popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 4TH: D Navarro struck out looking. J Velandia struck out swinging. J Wilson grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 5TH: D Pedroia singled to center. D Ortiz reached on infield single to pitcher, D Pedroia to second. M Lowell flied out to right. B Kielty walked, D Pedroia to third, D Ortiz to second. J Varitek struck out swinging. C Crisp struck out looking. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 5TH: A Iwamura struck out swinging. G Norton fouled out to left. C Pena grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 6TH: J Switzer relieved S Kazmir. J Lugo popped out to shortstop. E Hinske popped out to shortstop. J Ellsbury singled to left. S Dohmann relieved J Switzer. D Pedroia grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 6TH: B Upton struck out swinging. D Young grounded out to pitcher. J Gomes struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 7TH: D Ortiz struck out swinging. M Lowell struck out swinging. B Kielty struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 7TH: M Delcarmen relieved J Beckett. D Navarro grounded out to third. J Velandia struck out swinging. J Wilson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 8TH: G Glover relieved S Dohmann. J Varitek homered to right. C Crisp struck out swinging. J Lugo lined out to right. E Hinske struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 8TH: A Iwamura flied out to center. J Lopez relieved M Delcarmen. G Norton struck out swinging. C Pena grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, TAMPA BAY 1. BOSTON 9TH: J Ridgway relieved G Glover. J Ellsbury walked. D Pedroia hit by pitch, J Ellsbury to second. D Ortiz homered to left, J Ellsbury and D Pedroia scored. G Balfour relieved J Ridgway. M Lowell homered to left. B Kielty struck out swinging. J Varitek struck out swinging. B Moss hit for C Crisp. B Moss tripled to deep right center. J Lugo walked. E Hinske struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 8, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 9TH: J Ellsbury in center field. B Moss in left field. E Gagne relieved J Lopez. B Upton grounded out to third. D Young struck out swinging. J Ruggiano hit for J Gomes. J Ruggiano struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 8, TAMPA BAY 1.</div>
Beckett earns 20th win as Red Sox end skid <h3>BOSTON 8, TAMPA BAY 1</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox turned toace Josh Beckett to stop the bleeding. Beckett scattered four hits in six innings and David Ortiz drovein four runs to lead the Red Sox to an 8-1 victory over theTampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday. Boston entered the contest having dropped four in a row and fiveof six to drop its lead in the American League East to aprecarious 1 1/2 games over the rival New York Yankees. Beckett (20-6) picked up his 20th win, becoming the firstpitcher in the majors since 2005 to reach the milestone. The27-year-old righthander became the 47th Red Sox pitcher to win20 games and the first since Curt Schilling won 21 in 2004. He yielded one run and struck out eight while walking two to winhis fourth consecutive start and sixth in his last sevendecisions. Ortiz broke an early 1-1 deadlock with an RBI single in thethird and put the game out of reach with a three-run blast offrookie lefthander Jeff Ridgeway in the eighth. The All-Starslugger was not expected to get the start with tough lefthanderScott Kazmir on the mound and a balking knee, but he asked hisway into the lineup and came through with some much-neededoffensive punch. A pair of relievers bridged the gap to embattled righthanderEric Gagne, who turned in just his second 1-2-3 inning sincecoming over to Boston from the Texas Rangers at the tradingdeadline. Kazmir (13-9) had his four-game winning streak snapped for TampaBay. The 23-year-old lefthander allowed three runs - twoearned - and four hits in five innings while striking out nineto give him a major league-best 229 punchouts on the season. <div class="pre">Jason Varitek blasted a solo homer in the eighth inning for the</div>Red Sox, who cut their magic number to clinch a playoff spot totwo. Boston also scored on a Tampa Bay throwing error in thefirst and a wild pitch in the third. Mike Lowell also homered, becoming the first Red Sox thirdbaseman with back-to-back 20-homer seasons. The Devil Rays' only run came in the first on rookie DelmonYoung's bloop double to right field. Since a 13-4 stretch endedtwo weeks ago, the Devil Rays have won only two of their last10 games.
Beckett earns 20th win as Red Sox end skid <h3>BOSTON 8, TAMPA BAY 1</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox turned toace Josh Beckett to stop the bleeding. Beckett scattered four hits in six innings and David Ortiz drovein four runs to lead the Red Sox to an 8-1 victory over theTampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday. Boston (91-63), which had dropped four in a row and five of sixcoming into Friday's contest, pushed its lead in American LeagueEast back to 2 1/2 games over the New York Yankees (88-65), whosuffered a 5-4 loss in 14 innings to the Toronto Blue Jays. Beckett (20-6) picked up his 20th win, becoming the firstpitcher in the majors since 2005 to reach the milestone. The27-year-old righthander became the 47th Red Sox pitcher to win20 games and the first since Curt Schilling won 21 in 2004. "Twenty wins, it means a lot," Beckett said. "A lot of hard workfrom different people. They pick me up on days when I am not100 percent. It takes a lot of people to win that many games." He yielded one run and struck out eight while walking two to winhis fourth consecutive start and sixth in his last sevendecisions. "To win 20, he has been on a pretty good roll all year," Bostonmanager Terry Francona said. "He used all his pitches and hedidn't stray from his game plan. He only got stronger as thegame went on." Ortiz broke an early 1-1 deadlock with an RBI single in thethird and put the game out of reach with a three-run blast offrookie lefthander Jeff Ridgeway in the eighth. The All-Starslugger was not expected to get the start with tough lefthanderScott Kazmir on the mound and a balking knee, but he asked hisway into the lineup and came through with some much-neededoffensive punch. "David knows how to play the game," Francona said. "It's time tobe a leader. We have guys like that that can get us going." A pair of relievers bridged the gap to embattled righthanderEric Gagne, who turned in just his second 1-2-3 inning sincecoming over to Boston from the Texas Rangers at the tradingdeadline. "It worked out really well, to get (Gagne) back in the game andthrow all his pitches," Francona said. "He really threw the ballwell." Kazmir (13-9) had his four-game winning streak snapped for TampaBay. The 23-year-old lefthander allowed three runs - twoearned - four hits and walked four in five innings whilestriking out nine to give him a major league-best 229 strikeoutson the season. "Walks are going to kill you," Kazmir said. "You've got to makethem hit it. If you take those walks away, it might be adifferent ballgame." Jason Varitek blasted a solo homer in the eighth inning for theRed Sox, who cut their magic number to clinch a playoff spot totwo. Boston also scored on a Tampa Bay throwing error in thefirst and a wild pitch in the third. Mike Lowell also homered, becoming the first Red Sox thirdbaseman with back-to-back 20-homer seasons. "They (the Red Sox) are definitely playing to go somewhere andthat matters," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "You have tosuffer to a certain extent before you get to that point andwe're suffering to a certain extent." The Devil Rays' only run came in the first on rookie DelmonYoung's bloop double to right field. Since a 13-4 stretch endedtwo weeks ago, the Devil Rays have won only two of their last10 games.
