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

Litsch, Blue Jays deny Beckett 13th win

<h3>TORONTO 2, BOSTON 1</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Jesse Litsch shut down the Boston Red Soxlineup as the Toronto Blue Jays took the rubber game ofthree-game series with a 2-1 victory on Sunday.


A rookie righthander, Litsch outdueled Josh Beckett, denying theBoston ace a chance to become the first 13-game winner in themajor leagues.


Litsch (2-3) pitched 6 2/3 innings, scattering nine hits andallowing just the one run while striking out a pair and walkingone in his second start since being recalled from Class AAASyracuse.


The 22-year-old Litsch, who is in his second tour of duty withthe Blue Jays this season, pitched well in his last start,surrendering two runs - none earned - and seven hits over sevenframes in a loss at Oakland.


"He can pitch," Toronto manager John Gibbons said of Litsch. "Hecame up a couple of weeks ago out in Oakland and he's reallydoing a heck of a job for us. He hasn't had any jitters sinceday one he's been here. That's one thing about the kid, one ofthe reasons we brought him up so fast from Double-A. He'soverflowing with confidence."


With the wind swirling and blowing out to center at 20 miles perhour all afternoon, the game turned into an unlikely pitcher'sduel.


"It was a good ball game all the way around," Gibbons added."You go out there and look at the way the flag was blowing todayand you would never have expected 2-1. But (Litsch) wasgreat."


Litsch got double-play grounders in the second and third,including from David Ortiz whose one-hopper back to the moundended the third.


"He gave up some hits but he threw strikes," Red Sox managerTerry Francona said. "He made a great pitch to David. He had achance to get himself in a jam. He threw an off-speed pitch andgot the double-play."


The lone run Litsch allowed Sunday came in the bottom of thesixth. Alex Cora led off with a double off the wall and scoredon a double by All-Star Ortiz.


Litsch bore down and got Manny Ramirez to pop out to second. Therookie walked Kevin Youkilis to put two runners aboard beforegetting Mike Lowell to foul out to the catcher.


Eric Hinske followed with a single to right, but Ortiz wasthrown out at home by All-Star right fielder Alex Rios.

Scott Downs relieved Litsch with two outs in the seventh and gotpinch hitter Dustin Pedroia to ground out to end the inning.

Casey Janssen bridged the gap to closer Jeremy Accardo whopitched a perfect ninth to record his 13th save of the season.

The Blue Jays plated both of their runs off Beckett with twoouts in the top of the second inning. Lyle Overbay doubled tocenter field, and Aaron Hill followed with a double of his ownto plate Overbay, who finished with three hits.


Royce Clayton then ripped a singled to right field, scoring Hillto make it 2-0.


"I was the second-best pitcher today," Beckett said of his duelwith Litsch. "Bottom line, get out-pitched, you lose and that'swhat happened today. I definitely think that I battled throughsome other innings. Being the second-best pitcher in oneinning, sometimes that's enough to lose a ball game."

Beckett (12-3), who tossed a pair of scoreless innings to earnthe win at Tuesday's All-Star Game, pitched eight stronginnings. The righthander allowed two runs and seven hits,striking out eight and walking two.


In Beckett's last start, Boston batters pounded Tampa Baypitching and gave the right-hander his 12th win with a 15-3victory on July 5.


"I don't worry about that," Beckett said of Sunday's poweroutage. "I just go out there and try and get outs. We've gotguys playing hurt and everything so I am not worried about themscoring 15 runs every time I pitch."


After splitting their four-game series at Fenway, the Blue Jayshead to Yankee Stadium for a four-game set beginning Monday.

"We played a good series," Gibbons said. "(Saturday) night wecame back to tie it and then it got away. We played pretty goodin that first game, too. Here and Yankee Stadium are the twotoughest places to play on the road, no question. It's not evenclose."


Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek missed Sunday's game with abruised right hand after getting crossed up by a DaisukeMatsuzaka fastball Saturday night.


"I know Jason would make himself available in December but thatdidn't need to happen," said Francona of not using Varitek as apinch-hitter late in the game.


Boston was also without right fielder J.D. Drew, who missed hissecond straight game with a sore right hamstring.