GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (44-46) at BOSTON (55-35)

AL: TORONTO (44-46) at BOSTON (55-35)

<h3>Beckett goes for win No. 13 in series finale</h3>

Toronto (44-46) at Boston (55-35), 2:05 pm EDT


BOSTON (Ticker) -- Josh Beckett takes the mound in search ofhis major league-leading 13th win on Sunday when the BostonRed Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of afour-game series.


With fellow 12-game winner C.C. Sabathia of the ClevelandIndians getting knocked around by the Kansas City Royals onSaturday, Beckett has a chance to move into sole possession ofthe lead with a win over the Blue Jays.


The 27-year-old ace earned a win over Toronto on May 8, allowingone run and five hits over seven frames and striking out five.

Beckett also took the win on Tuesday at the All-Star Game,tossing a pair of scoreless frames of relief in the AmericanLeague's 5-4 victory over the National League. Boston closerJonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless eighth in the game aswell.


The Blue Jays will counter with rookie Jesse Litsch, who is onhis second tour of duty with the club this season. The22-year-old righthander made a splash in his majorleague-debut, yielding one run and four hits over 8 2/3 inningsto earn a win against Baltimore on May 15.


The league seemed to catch up with the youngster after that,pounding him for 12 runs in a total of nine innings over hisnext three starts before being sent back down to the minors.

Litsch was recalled on July 3 and performed well in a losingeffort, surrendering two runs - none earned - and seven hitsover seven frames at Oakland.


He will have to contend with a Boston lineup that pounded outthree homers en route to a 9-4 win on Saturday.

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS

TORONTO BOSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Reed Johnson LF .255 1 8 Coco Crisp CF .265 5 29
Alex Rios RF .302 18 55 Alex Cora 2B .278 2 15
Vernon Wells CF .254 13 50 David Ortiz DH .320 15 56
Matt Stairs DH .288 14 36 Manny Ramirez LF .286 12 52
Troy Glaus 3B .289 12 39 Kevin Youkilis 1B .323 9 46
Lyle Overbay 1B .257 8 28 Mike Lowell 3B .302 14 66
Aaron Hill 2B .274 10 51 Eric Hinske RF .194 4 12
Royce Clayton SS .236 1 11 Doug Mirabelli C .182 3 9
Jason Phillips C .212 1 12 Julio Lugo SS .209 5 40

Jesse Litsch RHP (1-3, 4.74) Josh Beckett RHP (12-2, 3.44)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
WARMUPS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH (1-3, 4.74)
BOS - JOSH BECKETT (12-2, 3.44)

UMPIRES: HP - BILL WELKE
1B - LAZ DIAZ
2B - JOHN HIRSCHBECK
3B - WALLY BELL

WEATHER: 85 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 15 mph, out to left</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
STARTING BATS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH AND JASON PHILLIPS
BOS - JOSH BECKETT AND DOUG MIRABELLI

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R JOHNSON (.255, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
A RIOS (.302, 18 HR, 55 RBI)
V WELLS (.254, 13 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.265, 5 HR, 29 RBI)
A CORA (.278, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.320, 15 HR, 56 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254
M Stairs dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
J Phillips c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
A Cora 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
E Hinske rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
BOSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.74

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.41

Pitches-strikes: J Beckett 14-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J Beckett 1-1.
Batters faced: J Beckett 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Wally Bell.

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
BOS - JOSH BECKETT</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0
BOSTON 0 0 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.288, 14 HR, 36 RBI)
T GLAUS (.289, 12 HR, 39 RBI)
L OVERBAY (.257, 8 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BOSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254
M Stairs dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
J Phillips c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Cora 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Ortiz dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .322
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
E Hinske rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Youkilis 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
BOSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.56

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.41

Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 19-11; J Beckett 14-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Litsch 2-1; J Beckett 1-1. Batters faced: J Litsch 5; J Beckett 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Wally Bell.

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY AARON HILL SCORED LYLE OVERBAY.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A HILL ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1
BOSTON 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R CLAYTON (.236, 1 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ROYCE CLAYTON SCORED AARON HILL.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R CLAYTON ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
BOSTON 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J PHILLIPS (.212, 1 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 2 2 3 0
BOSTON 0 0 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.302, 14 HR, 66 RBI)
E HINSKE (.194, 4 HR, 12 RBI)
D MIRABELLI (.182, 3 HR, 9 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254
M Stairs dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
L Overbay 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .276
R Clayton ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .241
J Phillips c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .210

Totals 9 2 3 2 0 3 1

BATTING: 2B - L Overbay (16, J Beckett); A Hill (26, J Beckett). RBI - A Hill
(52), R Clayton (12). 2-out RBI - A Hill, R Clayton. Team LOB - 1.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Cora 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Ortiz dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .322
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
E Hinske rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Youkilis 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 02 -- 2
BOSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.56

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 2 3 2 2 0 3 0 3.55

Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 19-11; J Beckett 34-22. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Litsch 2-1; J Beckett 1-2. Batters faced: J Litsch 5; J Beckett 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Wally Bell.

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 2 2 3 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R JOHNSON (.250, 0-FOR-1)
A RIOS (.301, 0-FOR-1)
V WELLS (.254, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS BOSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254
M Stairs dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
L Overbay 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .276
R Clayton ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .241
J Phillips c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .210

Totals 9 2 3 2 0 3 1

BATTING: 2B - L Overbay (16, J Beckett); A Hill (26, J Beckett). RBI - A Hill
(52), R Clayton (12). 2-out RBI - A Hill, R Clayton. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Hill-R Clayton-L Overbay).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Cora 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Ortiz dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .322
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .304
E Hinske rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .191
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 8 0 3 0 0 0 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Youkilis 1. GIDP - E
Hinske. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 02 -- 2
BOSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 4.39

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 2 3 2 2 0 3 0 3.55

Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 27-16; J Beckett 34-22. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Litsch 5-1; J Beckett 1-2. Batters faced: J Litsch 8; J Beckett 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Wally Bell.

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 2 0 2 3 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.209, 5 HR, 40 RBI)
C CRISP (.264, 0-FOR-1)
A CORA (.276, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
A Rios rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253
M Stairs dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
L Overbay 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .276
R Clayton ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .241
J Phillips c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .210

Totals 12 2 3 2 0 3 1

BATTING: 2B - L Overbay (16, J Beckett); A Hill (26, J Beckett). RBI - A Hill
(52), R Clayton (12). 2-out RBI - A Hill, R Clayton. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Hill-R Clayton-L Overbay).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Cora 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D Ortiz dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .322
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .304
E Hinske rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .191
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 8 0 3 0 0 0 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Youkilis 1. GIDP - E
Hinske. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 020 -- 2
BOSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 4.39

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 3 3 2 2 0 3 0 3.51

Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 27-16; J Beckett 42-28. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Litsch 5-1; J Beckett 3-3. Batters faced: J Litsch 8; J Beckett 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Wally Bell.

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 2 0 2 3 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 5 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.286, 0-FOR-1)
T GLAUS (.288, 0-FOR-1)
L OVERBAY (.260, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS BOSTON (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
A Rios rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253
M Stairs dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
L Overbay 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .276
R Clayton ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .241
J Phillips c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .210

Totals 12 2 3 2 0 3 1

BATTING: 2B - L Overbay (16, J Beckett); A Hill (26, J Beckett). RBI - A Hill
(52), R Clayton (12). 2-out RBI - A Hill, R Clayton. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (A Hill-R Clayton-L Overbay, J Litsch-R Clayton-L Overbay).



BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267
A Cora 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273
D Ortiz dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .321
M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .322
M Lowell 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .304
E Hinske rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .191
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179
J Lugo ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 12 0 5 0 0 0 7

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Youkilis 1. GIDP - E
Hinske, D Ortiz. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 020 -- 2
BOSTON - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 4.23

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett 3 3 2 2 0 3 0 3.51

Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 35-21; J Beckett 42-28. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Litsch 8-1; J Beckett 3-3. Batters faced: J Litsch 12; J Beckett 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--John Hirschbeck. 3B--Wally Bell.

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 2 0 0 2 4 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 5 1 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
BOS - JOSH BECKETT

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.288, 1-FOR-1)
K YOUKILIS (.322, 0-FOR-1)
M LOWELL (.304, 1-FOR-1)</div>