AL: MINNESOTA (77-81) at BOSTON (94-64) <h3>Beckett looks to move Red Sox closer to AL East title</h3> <div class="pre">Minnesota (77-81) at Boston (94-64) 7:05 pm EDT</div> BOSTON (Ticker) - Josh Beckett hopes to move the Boston Red Soxcloser to their first American League East Division title in 12years Thursday when they host the Minnesota Twins. Entering their final series of their year, the Red Sox have amagic number of two over the New York Yankees (91-67) as theytry to lock up their first division title since 1995. Beckett (20-6, 3.14 ERA) is a major reason why the Red Sox arein the position they are. He is the league leader in wins andis locked in a battle for the American League Cy Young Awardwith a number of worthy candidates, most notably ClevelandIndians lefthander C.C. Sabathia. A win on Thursday would ensure that Beckett finishes with atleast two more victories than anyone else in the league. The 27-year-old righthander is 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA over his lastfour outings. Should he fail to pitch at least 5 1/3 inningson Thursday, Beckett would become just the third pitcher inmajor league history to win 20 games without throwing at least200 innings in a season. Former Boston hurler Pedro Martinez was the last to accomplishthe feat, tossing 199 1/3 frames while going 20-4 in 2002. Boston is coming off a two-game sweep of Oakland. The Twins will counter with struggling righthander Boof Bonser(7-12, 5.09). The 25-year-old is limping to the finish in hisfirst full season in the majors, going 2-6 with a 6.39 ERA overhis last 10 appearances. Minnesota, which won the AL Central last season, lost two ofthree to Detroit to begin the week.
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS MINNESOTA BOSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Jason Bartlett SS .266 5 43 Dustin Pedroia 2B .317 8 50 Jason Kubel LF .268 13 64 Manny Ramirez LF .298 20 87 Torii Hunter CF .288 28 104 David Ortiz DH .325 33 114 Justin Morneau DH .275 30 110 Mike Lowell 3B .326 20 116 Michael Cuddyer RF .276 15 80 J.D. Drew RF .266 10 59 Garrett Jones 1B .194 1 3 Jason Varitek C .255 15 66 Matt Lecroy C .200 0 0 Jacoby Ellsbury CF .359 3 18 Brian Buscher 3B .246 2 8 Eric Hinske 1B .204 6 21 Nick Punto 2B .212 1 25 Julio Lugo SS .238 8 73 Boof Bonser RHP (7-12, 5.09) Josh Beckett RHP (20-6, 3.14)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON WARMUPS: MIN - BOOF BONSER (7-12, 5.09) BOS - JOSH BECKETT (20-6, 3.14) UMPIRES: HP - LARRY PONCINO 1B - GARY DARLING 2B - JERRY MEALS 3B - ROB DRAKE WEATHER: 78 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 11 mph, in from right</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON STARTING BATS: MIN - BOOF BONSER AND MATT LECROY BOS - JOSH BECKETT AND JASON VARITEK DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.266, 5 HR, 43 RBI) J KUBEL (.268, 13 HR, 64 RBI) T HUNTER (.288, 28 HR, 104 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE TRIPLE BY JASON KUBEL SCORED JASON BARTLETT. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J KUBEL ON THIRD, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1 BOSTON 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.288, 28 HR, 104 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 1 1 2 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER BOS - JOSH BECKETT DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.317, 8 HR, 50 RBI) M RAMIREZ (.298, 20 HR, 87 RBI) D ORTIZ (.325, 33 HR, 114 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .267 J Kubel lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .270 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .274 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 M LeCroy c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Totals 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 BATTING: 3B - J Kubel (2, J Beckett). RBI - J Kubel (65). Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: CS - T Hunter (9, 2nd base by J Beckett/J Varitek). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325 M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Ellsbury cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .359 E Hinske 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Varitek-J Lugo). ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 1 -- 1 BOSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Bonser 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.09 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.17 Pitches-strikes: J Beckett 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Beckett 1-0. Batters faced: J Beckett 4. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER BOS - JOSH BECKETT</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY DAVID ORTIZ SCORED MANNY RAMIREZ. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D ORTIZ ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1 BOSTON 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.326, 20 HR, 116 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY J.D. DREW SCORED DAVID ORTIZ. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J DREW ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1 BOSTON 2 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J VARITEK (.255, 15 HR, 66 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 1 1 2 1 BOSTON 2 2 3 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER BOS - JOSH BECKETT DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.276, 15 HR, 80 RBI) G JONES (.194, 1 HR, 3 RBI) M LECROY (.200, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS BOSTON (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .267 J Kubel lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .270 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .274 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 M LeCroy c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Totals 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 BATTING: 3B - J Kubel (2, J Beckett). RBI - J Kubel (65). Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: CS - T Hunter (9, 2nd base by J Beckett/J Varitek). FIELDING: E - M LeCroy (1, throw). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318 M Ramirez lf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .297 D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .326 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Drew rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .255 J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .356 E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .203 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 7 2 3 2 1 1 6 BATTING: 2B - D Ortiz (51, B Bonser). RBI - D Ortiz (115), J Drew (60). 2-out RBI - J Drew. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Hinske 2. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - J Drew (4, 2nd base off B Bonser/M LeCroy). FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Varitek-J Lugo). ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 1 -- 1 BOSTON - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Bonser 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 5.17 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.17 Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 39-22; J Beckett 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bonser 3-0; J Beckett 1-0. Batters faced: B Bonser 8; J Beckett 4. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY MICHAEL CUDDYER (16) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF JOSH BECKETT. CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2, BOSTON 2 DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: G JONES (.194, 1 HR, 3 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 1 1 2 4 1 BOSTON 2 2 3 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER BOS - JOSH BECKETT DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.238, 8 HR, 73 RBI) D PEDROIA (.318, 1-FOR-1) M RAMIREZ (.297, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS BOSTON (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .267 J Kubel lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .270 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .274 M Cuddyer rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .278 G Jones 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .191 M LeCroy c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .182 B Buscher 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257 N Punto 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .211 Totals 9 2 4 2 0 3 3 BATTING: 3B - J Kubel (2, J Beckett). HR - M Cuddyer (16, 2nd inning off J Beckett 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - J Kubel (65), M Cuddyer (81). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N Punto 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - B Buscher (1, 2nd base off J Beckett/J Varitek). CS - T Hunter (9, 2nd base by J Beckett/J Varitek). FIELDING: E - M LeCroy (1, throw). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318 M Ramirez lf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .297 D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .326 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Drew rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .255 J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .356 E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .203 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 7 2 3 2 1 1 6 BATTING: 2B - D Ortiz (51, B Bonser). RBI - D Ortiz (115), J Drew (60). 2-out RBI - J Drew. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Hinske 2. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - J Drew (4, 2nd base off B Bonser/M LeCroy). FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Varitek-J Lugo). ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 11 -- 2 BOSTON - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Bonser 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 5.17 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett 2 4 2 2 0 3 1 3.20 Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 39-22; J Beckett 38-23. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bonser 3-0; J Beckett 1-1. Batters faced: B Bonser 8; J Beckett 9. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 1 1 2 4 1 BOSTON 2 0 2 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER BOS - JOSH BECKETT DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.267, 1-FOR-1) J KUBEL (.270, 1-FOR-1, RBI) T HUNTER (.288, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS BOSTON (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .267 J Kubel lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .270 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .274 M Cuddyer rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .278 G Jones 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .191 M LeCroy c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .182 B Buscher 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257 N Punto 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .211 Totals 9 2 4 2 0 3 3 BATTING: 3B - J Kubel (2, J Beckett). HR - M Cuddyer (16, 2nd inning off J Beckett 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - J Kubel (65), M Cuddyer (81). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N Punto 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - B Buscher (1, 2nd base off J Beckett/J Varitek). CS - T Hunter (9, 2nd base by J Beckett/J Varitek). FIELDING: E - M LeCroy (1, throw). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318 M Ramirez lf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .297 D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .326 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Drew rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .255 J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .356 E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .203 J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 10 2 3 2 1 1 6 BATTING: 2B - D Ortiz (51, B Bonser). RBI - D Ortiz (115), J Drew (60). 2-out RBI - J Drew. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Hinske 2. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - J Drew (4, 2nd base off B Bonser/M LeCroy). FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Varitek-J Lugo). ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 11 -- 2 BOSTON - 20 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Bonser 2 3 2 2 1 1 0 5.14 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett 2 4 2 2 0 3 1 3.20 Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 47-29; J Beckett 38-23. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bonser 5-1; J Beckett 1-1. Batters faced: B Bonser 11; J Beckett 9. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY TORII HUNTER SCORED JASON BARTLETT. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 3 BOSTON 2 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.274, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 1 1 1 3 6 1 BOSTON 2 0 2 3 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER BOS - JOSH BECKETT DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D ORTIZ (.326, 1-FOR-1, RBI) M LOWELL (.326, 0-FOR-1) J DREW (.268, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (3) VS BOSTON (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 .269 J Kubel lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .269 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .288 J Morneau dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .276 M Cuddyer rf 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .277 G Jones 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .191 M LeCroy c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .182 B Buscher 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257 N Punto 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .211 Totals 13 3 6 3 0 3 4 BATTING: 2B - J Bartlett (20, J Beckett). 3B - J Kubel (2, J Beckett). HR - M Cuddyer (16, 2nd inning off J Beckett 0 on, 0 Out). SF - T Hunter. RBI - J Kubel (65), M Cuddyer (81), T Hunter (105). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N Punto 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - B Buscher (1, 2nd base off J Beckett/J Varitek). CS - T Hunter (9, 2nd base by J Beckett/J Varitek). FIELDING: E - M LeCroy (1, throw). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .318 M Ramirez lf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .297 D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .326 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Drew rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .255 J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .356 E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .203 J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 10 2 3 2 1 1 6 BATTING: 2B - D Ortiz (51, B Bonser). RBI - D Ortiz (115), J Drew (60). 2-out RBI - J Drew. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Hinske 2. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - J Drew (4, 2nd base off B Bonser/M LeCroy). FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Varitek-J Lugo). ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 111 -- 3 BOSTON - 20 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Bonser 2 3 2 2 1 1 0 5.14 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett 3 6 3 3 0 3 1 3.23 Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 47-29; J Beckett 60-36. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bonser 5-1; J Beckett 2-3. Batters faced: B Bonser 11; J Beckett 14. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from right.</div>
