BOSTON — Josh Beckett turned the boos to cheers one start after he was loudly jeered by throwing seven shutout innings to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 5-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. It was Boston’s fifth straight victory. All the wins have come at Fenway, the longest streak since the Red Sox won nine straight last July. David Ortiz hit a solo homer and Mike Aviles had two RBI doubles for the Red Sox. Beckett had given up seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings in a loss to Cleveland last Thursday. It came after he admitted to going golfing when his previous start was scratched as a precaution because he told the club he had a sore lat muscle. But on Tuesday he was in complete command against the offensively challenged Mariners. Beckett (3-4), who turned 32 years old on Tuesday, gave up four singles, walked two and and fanned nine. His strikeouts moved him into sixth place ahead of Bruce Hurst on the club’s all-time list. Rich Hill and Alfredo Aceves each worked a scoreless inning for Boston to complete the combined four-hit shutout. The Mariners, who completed the second stop of a four-city, 10-game road trip, have lost five of seven. Ichiro Suzuki had two singles and a pair of nice sliding catches for Seattle, which entered the day with the AL’s second-worst batting average at .235. Mariners starter Blake Beavan (2-3) allowed three runs on five hits in four innings. Beckett breezed through the first three perfect innings, striking out six and throwing just 37 pitches. He worked out of trouble in the fourth and sixth after the Mariners got a pair of runners on in each inning. Ortiz’s eighth homer of the season — a drive into the Red Sox bullpen — made it 1-0 in the third. Boston added a pair of runs in the fourth. Aviles’ RBI double came after Cody Ross walked and went to third on Daniel Nava’s single. Nava then scored on Ryan Sweeney’s grounder to second. Will Middlebrooks’ RBI single made it 4-0 in the fifth against Charlie Furbush. Ortiz led off with a perfectly placed bunt single down the third-base line against the shift, advanced when Justin Smoak’s throw took shortstop Munenori Kawasaki off the bag on Adrian Gonzalez’s easy double-play ball. The lumbering Ortiz advanced on a wild pitch before Middlebrooks singled off the base of the Green Monster. Aviles’ second double made it 5-0 in the eighth. Notes: Mariners 1B Justin Smoak’s early-season struggles may be slowly coming to an end. He was 8 for his last 16 coming into Tuesday’s game, raising his average 41 points to .214. “I’m encouraged by what we’re seeing with him, because what we’re seeing is real, with his approach and mindset,” manager Eric Wedge said before the game. But he went hitless in four at-bats. … The Red Sox honored recently retired RHP Tim Wakefield with a 25-minute on-field ceremony before the game. They also cut his No. 49 into the center-field grass. The knuckleballer played 19 seasons in the majors, 17 with the Red Sox. He was the longest serving member with Boston and retired with the second-most wins club history with 186, behind only Roger Clemens and Cy Young, who each collected 192. … It was Beckett’s second career start on his birthday. The other was a win over Baltimore on May 15, 2006 when he allowed one run in seven innings.

 

BOSTON (AP)

Seattle’s Dustin Ackley had never faced Jon Lester before Monday night and afterward said that the Boston Red Sox left-hander’s cutter looked identical to his fastball.

Ackley wasn’t the only Mariner who couldn’t figure out Lester.

Lester scattered eight hits without walking a batter in his second complete game of the season to lead the Red Sox to their fourth straight win, 6-1 over Seattle.

”He’s got some great pitches. His curveball’s a great pitch, too,” said Ackley, who went 1-for-4 with a single. ”He gets ahead with that on guys early, and when he’s able to use the cutter, it’s a great pitch for him. When you have a pitch like that, you’re going to miss barrels a lot.”

Swing and miss the Mariners did.

Seattle didn’t manage a hit off Lester (2-3) until Ichiro Suzuki singled with two outs in the fourth inning, and they mustered merely six hits — all singles — through eight innings. Lester struck out six, including Alex Liddi to cap his first nine-inning complete game since June 27, 2010. He also tossed an eight-inning complete game earlier this season in a loss at Toronto.

Lester required 119 pitches to finish off his eighth career complete game, surrendering the lone run in the ninth when Suzuki singled, moved to third on a double by Justin Smoak and scored on Kyle Seager’s groundout.

”I’ve seen him pretty good, unfortunately. But he was good tonight, too,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. ”He’s a smart kid. As he works his way through the lineup the second and third times, he does a nice job mixing-and-matching and he did a lot of that tonight.”

Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach homered for Boston.

David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez added consecutive RBI doubles for the Red Sox, who won their fourth in a row at home. Boston is on its longest home winning streak since capturing nine straight last July.

The Red Sox opened just 4-11 at Fenway Park.

The Mariners, on the second stop of a four-city, 11-game trip, have dropped four of six. Seattle entered the day with the AL’s second-worst batting average at .235.

Suzuki and Smoak each had two hits for the Mariners.

Jason Vargas (4-3) had his worst start of the season, allowing five runs and seven hits in six innings. He had allowed two runs or fewer in six of his eight starts this year.

Lester retired the first 11 batters before Suzuki reached on an infield hit when the ball caromed off the pitcher’s glove. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks had little time to make a throw when he finally recovered the ball.

Leading 2-0, the Red Sox increased their lead to 5-0 on the homers by Nava and Shoppach. Nava hit his second career home run into the first row of seats above the Green Monster after Cody Ross singled leading off the fourth. One out later, Shoppach belted one over the Monster seats, completely out of Fenway, for his first of the season.

Nava’s only other homer was a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues, making him just the second player in major league history to accomplish the feat. Kevin Kouzmanoff was the other, doing it with Cleveland in 2006.

Marlon’s Byrd’s sacrifice fly made it 6-0 in the eighth.

Boston had grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first on doubles on consecutive pitches to Ortiz and Gonzalez.

Boston’s Dustin Pedroia went 0-for-4, snapping his 14-game hitting streak.

NOTES: Nava, who spent all of 2011 at Triple-A Pawtucket, had gone 171 at-bats between homers. … Vargas hadn’t given up more than four runs in a start this season. … Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said 3B Kevin Youkilis, on the 15-day DL since April 29 with a strained lower back, took groundballs Monday and isn’t far away from returning. … Wedge feels his struggling lineup needs a lot more help from Suzuki. ”I’m hoping we can get a little more production out of the 3-spot, out of Ichiro, driving in runs,” he said. ”He’s the one veteran we’ve got in the lineup and he has to produce for us.” … Wedge also said he sees improvement from 1B Smoak, who entered the game hitting .205. ”He’s been better. He’s been more consistent to the point of contact.” … The Red Sox honored the 2012 NCAA Hockey champion Boston College Eagles before the game.

After a particularly bitter end to a dismal homestand, the Boston Red Sox may welcome a trip to Kansas City as they search for answers.

The biggest question may be how Boston handles an overworked bullpen.

The Red Sox will try to avoid a season-high sixth straight loss Monday night when they open a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals.

Boston has had a miserable time at home recently, losing 10 of 11. The Red Sox (11-16) finished a 1-5 homestand with a 9-6, 17-inning loss to Baltimore on Sunday, getting swept at Fenway Park by the Orioles in a three-game series for the first time since 1994.

Outfielder Darnell McDonald, who entered in the eighth as a pinch runner, gave up a tiebreaking three-run homer in the 17th. With Clay Buchholz failing to make it out of the fourth inning, the Red Sox had already used seven relievers before McDonald came in.

”I don’t like any losses. I’ve never found a loss that I thought was easy,” manager Bobby Valentine said. ”They’re all difficult.”

It was the second extra-inning game of the series, with Friday’s opener going to the 13th. Boston’s bullpen was already taxed after Aaron Cook failed to make it out of the third in Saturday’s loss. The team doesn’t have a scheduled day off until May 24.

Even before Sunday, the Red Sox were looking at options for the bullpen. Cook was placed on the disabled list after receiving stitches in his knee and Boston called up Andrew Miller, who struck out three in 1 1-3 innings Sunday.

The Red Sox’s five-game skid matches their longest of the season, set April 16-21 – losses that were all at home. After that slide, they won their next six straight – all on the road.

Boston hasn’t dropped six in a row since opening the 2011 season 0-6.

With no day off this week, it will be important for Felix Doubront (1-1, 5.19 ERA) to give the Red Sox some innings Monday.

However, Doubront gave up five runs in four innings of a 5-3 loss to Oakland on Tuesday. He struck out eight, but threw 30 pitches in the first inning and 94 overall.

The left-hander, who has yet to pitch past the sixth inning in any of his eight career starts, will try to keep the Royals struggling at home.

Kansas City (9-18) settled for a split of a four-game series against the Yankees, losing 10-4 Sunday to fall to 2-12 at home.

Luke Hochevar was hit hard again, allowing seven runs in 2 1-3 innings as his ERA soared to 9.00.

Royals starters are 2-8 with a 6.59 ERA at home.

Jonathan Sanchez (1-1, 5.24) will try to reverse that trend and build off his best start since his season debut. The left-hander gave up one hit in five scoreless innings of a 3-2 victory at Detroit on Wednesday but left without a decision.

“Sanchez used his fastball well,” manager Ned Yost said. ”After battling strep throat the past three days, so he started to lose some energy in the fifth.”

Sanchez won his only start against the Red Sox while with San Francisco on June 25, 2010. He gave up three runs, three hits and four walks in 5 1-3 innings.

Boston slugger Adrian Gonzalez, who went 0 for 8 in Sunday’s loss, is 9 for 36 (.231) with one homer and 12 strikeouts lifetime against Sanchez.

The Red Sox have won seven of nine in Kansas City.

Josh Beckett had five strikeouts and one confrontation with an umpire in six sharp innings and David Ortiz homered with three RBIs to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 11-2 romp over the Minnesota Twins last night.

Beckett (2-2) allowed two runs and five hits and Mike Aviles went 4 for 5 with a homer and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who had no trouble with this big lead after squandering a nine-run advantage in a loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Beckett jawed with home plate umpire Adrian Johnson after a rough first inning, but the fiery Texan finished his evening by striking out the side in the sixth.

Nick Blackburn (0-2) gave up five runs and eight hits in just three innings for the Twins.

Beckett had a heck of a time in the first inning, needing 37 pitches to grind through it. He walked three straight hitters, including Justin Morneau with the bases loaded, to make it 3-1.

Beckett gave several long looks into Johnson on a couple of close pitches to Josh Willingham and Danny Valencia. After getting Valencia to ground out to end the inning, Beckett let out a scream as he walked off the mound and yelled “That’s (expletive) five outs!” in Johnson’s direction. As Johnson started to walk toward Beckett, manager Bobby Valentine briefly left the dugout to diffuse the situation.

The only trouble Beckett gave the rest of the way was to the Twins offense. Willingham doubled home Jamey Carroll in the fifth, but that was all Minnesota could muster.

Ortiz’s monster, two-run shot in the third inning landed on the stairway in right field — an estimated 429 feet — to make it 5-1. It was the continuation of an incredible start for the 36-year-old slugger, who is hitting .444 with three homers and 15 RBIs. His 28 hits are a career-high for April.

Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and two RBIs and Scott Atchison and Matt Albers pitched three innings of scoreless relief.

The Red Sox led the Yankees 9-0 after five innings on Saturday, but their beleaguered bullpen gave it all back and then some, including consecutive seven-run frames in a loss that Valentine termed rock bottom. They have rebounded with two strong performances in Minnesota, which has lost four straight and is sinking plenty fast itself.

Blackburn left his previous start in the sixth inning with stiffness in his right shoulder and was skipped the next time through the rotation. He gave up three runs and five hits in the first and needed 71 pitches to get through three innings.

Left-hander Matt Maloney didn’t fare any better, getting tagged for five runs and eight hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Willingham had two hits and an RBI for Minnesota.

NOTES: OF Carl Crawfordflew from Ft. Myers, Fla., to Boston for an examination on his strained left elbow. Valentine said they were “still gathering information” but said it would remain a concern until he was deemed 100 percent. Crawford has yet to play this season. … The Twins placed INF Tsuyoshi Nishioka on the minor league DL with a high ankle sprain. GM Terry Ryansaid Nishioka could miss 10 days with the injury. … The Twins planned to call up OF Ben Revere from Triple-A Rochester today to replace Willingham, who is taking three days of paternity leave while his wife has the couple’s third child. … The Red Sox will send struggling RHP Clay Buchholz (1-1, 9.00 ERA) to the mound to go for the series sweep against Minnesota’s RHP Liam Hendriks (0-0, 3.86 ERA) tonight. Buchholz gave up six earned runs and five home runs in a loss to the Yankees last week.

MINNEAPOLIS — The struggles of the Minnesota Twins’ starting pitchers continued Tuesday, as the Boston Red Sox put on an offensive show, winning 11-2 at Target Field. Nick Blackburn (0-3) allowed eight hits in three innings. His replacement, Matt Maloney, gave up another eight in less than two innings as the Twins dropped their third in a row. The Red Sox got 18 hits, improving to 2-0 on their seven-game, seven-day road trip. Mike Aviles tied a career best with four hits, including two doubles and a solo home run, and Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with three runs. Josh Beckett (2-2) labored early but settled down, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five in six innings. Minnesota’s starting pitchers are now a collective 2-10 for the season and have allowed 122 hits, which is the most in baseball. Boston hit Blackburn early and often in the first inning, taking a 3-0 lead when five of their first six batters got a hit. Aviles sent the third pitch of the game to the wall for a double. Two pitches later, he was back in the dugout, as Ryan Sweeney’s RBI single brought Aviles home. David Ortiz added an RBI single in the inning, and Cody Ross’ bases-loaded groundout scored another run. Beckett had his own struggles early, needing 37 pitches to get through the first inning but allowing only one run. After Jamey Carroll reached on a fielder’s choice, Beckett walked Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau to give the Twins their first run. Beckett traded harsh words with plate umpire Adrian Johnson as he left the field after retiring Ryan Doumit and Danny Valencia to leave the bases loaded. Boston added two more in the third, when Blackburn walked Gonzalez, then gave up a 429-foot homer to right by David Ortiz. Blackburn, who had missed his previous start due to right shoulder tightness, was lifted at the end of the third after giving up eight hits and five runs. Matt Maloney came on in relief for the Twins and fared no better, as the Red Sox tacked on two in the fourth, including a solo homer by Aviles, and three more in the fifth to lead 10-1. Minnesota got one back in the fifth. Denard Span doubled but was retired at third on a fielder’s choice, with Carroll reaching second. Willingham’s double down the left field line scored Carroll. NOTES: The first-inning single and third-inning homer by Ortiz gave him 28 hits for the season, which is the most through 16 games in Red Sox history for a left-handed hitter. … The Twins will call up Ben Revere from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, when left fielder Josh Willingham will take a paternity leave from the team. Willingham’s wife, Ginger, is expecting the couple’s third child. … After starting above .500 after 15 games in 13 consecutive seasons (1997-2009), the Red Sox were sub-.500 after 15 games for the third season in a row.

The Boston Red Sox got a day off to forget a major meltdown.

The Red Sox hope to end their five-game slide as they begin a seven-game trip Monday night with the first of three against the Minnesota Twins.

Boston (4-10) blew a nine-run lead in Saturday’s 15-9 loss to the Yankees, with 14 runs charged to manager Bobby Valentine’s beleaguered bullpen. Red Sox relievers have an 8.44 ERA for the worst mark in baseball.

Daniel Bard, scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale that was postponed by rain, will have his turn in the rotation skipped and is being temporarily sent to the bullpen.

“Got to consider everything,” Valentine said. “They’re my guys.”

Jon Lester (0-2, 5.82 ERA) will start Monday’s opener but didn’t make things easy on the bullpen his last time out. He was charged with seven runs over two-plus innings in Tuesday’s 18-3 loss to Texas.

The left-hander is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in six career starts against Minnesota (5-11), posting a 5.84 ERA and issuing eight walks over 12 1-3 innings in dropping both outings at Target Field.

Valentine said his last-place club hit bottom after Saturday’s defeat. A day later, he expressed more confidence.

“When you’re 4-10, it’s not easy to say that everything is going perfectly,” he said. “But I think they’re good players, high quality, and we’re going to win a lot of games.”

The manager has a new player available with Marlon Byrd, acquired from the Cubs on Saturday, set to join the team. Byrd went 3 for 43 this year for Chicago, but the Red Sox outfield is hampered by injuries to Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury.

“He isn’t hitting right now; that’s the good news,” Valentine said, “which means he’s saved up all his hits for us, which is a good thing for him to do.”

The Twins are 3-4 during a 10-game stretch against the AL East, dropping two of three in Tampa Bay over the weekend. They were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position in Sunday’s 6-2 defeat and finished the series 4 for 27.

“We had one big hit, obviously not enough big hits,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Just a rough day for us.”

Justin Morneau went 1 for 7 against the Rays after a big series against the Yankees in which he was 5 for 11 with three homers.

Jason Marquis (1-0, 7.20) makes his first home start after a winning season debut Wednesday as he gave up four runs over five innings in a 6-5 victory over the Yankees.

The right-hander started his season late because his oldest child, Reese, was seriously hurt in a bicycle accident during spring training. She was released from the hospital on opening day and watched her father pitch last week after doctors wondered whether she would survive due to injuries that included a lacerated kidney.

“Lots of players have hardships in their careers,” Marquis said. “The challenge is to step onto the field and learn to try to separate it – go out there and play a kid’s game.”

The right-hander hasn’t faced the Red Sox since 2002. Adrian Gonzalez, who hit .379 against the Twins a year ago, is 6 for 19 with three doubles against him.

Boston went 5-2 last season against Minnesota.

Boston, MA —

David Ortiz went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run
and three-run double as the Boston Red Sox pummeled the Tampa Bay Rays, 13-5,
in the second of a three-game set.

Cody Ross also hit a two-run home run and finished with four RBI, Jarrod
Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer while Mike Aviles and Dustin Pedroia added
solo shots for the Red Sox, who have taken the first two games of this set.
Clay Buchholz (1-0) gave up five runs on six hits with three walks and five
strikeouts over seven innings of work.

“I felt really good physically. I felt like in the beginning of the game my
changeup wasn’t there, everything was up,” Buchholz said. “I was trying to be
too quick to the plate out of the stretch and that caused the pitches to be up
in the zone, but after that third inning when I gave up a run everything
started to settle.”

Before the game, the Red Sox placed outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury on the 15-day
disabled list with a shoulder injury which could possibly sideline him
anywhere from six to eight weeks.

Luke Scott hit a three-run home run and drove in four for the Rays, who have
dropped three straight. Jeremy Hellickson went five innings in the start and
gave up five runs on seven hits. Burke Badenhop (0-1) took the loss for giving
up a run in 1 1/3 innings.

“Definitely location,” Hellickson said of the reason for his struggles. “I’ve
got to execute what I want to throw and just didn’t do that.”

Tampa struck early to take the lead. Desmond Jennings led off with a walk and
came home as Carlos Pena followed with a double. The next two batters then
recorded outs, but Ben Zobrist walked to keep the frame alive. Scott then
smacked a pitch over the wall in right for a 4-0 lead.

Boston got on the board in the second as Ryan Sweeney drew a two-out walk and
came home when Saltalamacchia followed with a homer to center to make it a 4-2
contest.

Tampa, though, got it back in the third as Matt Joyce walked and later scored
off a double from Scott.

Pedroia’s one-out, solo shot to left in the third made it a 5-3 contest and
Ortiz tied the game in the fifth when he drilled a 3-2 pitch over the wall in
center with Kevin Youkilis on first base.

The Red Sox took their first lead of the game in the seventh and they did it
right off the bat as Aviles led off the frame with a homer just over the Green
Monster. With J.P. Howell on the mound, Adrian Gonzalez doubled and Youkilis
followed with a walk. A single from Ortiz loaded the bases and Ross brought
home two for an 8-5 lead with a double off the Monster.

Boston turned the game into a rout in the eighth inning as a bases-clearing
double from Ortiz was followed by a home run from Ross for a 13-5 advantage.

Game Notes

Tampa took 12 of the 18 games against Boston last season…Boston had 15 hits
in the game…Buchholz is 5-2 over nine games against the Rays…Felix
Doubront is on the mound for Boston on Sunday while Matt Moore will toe the
rubber for Tampa.

Opening Day 2011 at Fenway Park went off without a hitch, even though the Red Sox had started their season at 0-6. This was, after all, the Greatest Team That Ever Was and fans acknowledged that the slow start was attributed, perhaps, to the growing pains of acquiring superstars Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford – and perhaps a little bad luck.

So when the gates opened on April 8, the requisite excitement was in full force and, eventually, the disappointment over the start faded as the Sox became the best team in baseball.

Opening Day 2012 at Fenway – Friday – however, is likely to be something else altogether. The Red Sox return from their season-opening 1-5 road trip and it doesn’t appear that anyone’s willing to cut them a break. This could be a disaster not only for the players, who likely will be feeling the heat from the people who normally adore them, but also for the organization, which was hoping to go into this season on a wave of good feelings and nostalgia.

The only nostalgia it’s feeling is about six months old.

The pitiful start by the team they have assembled could serve to scuttle not only the opening-day goodwill that’s usually oozing, but it could also hit them in the pocketbooks, where they’re looking at a 712-game sellout streak that dates to May 2003. Make that 713 after opening day, but lingering resentment by the fans over last September’s collapse and the subsequent charges of player indifference, coupled with the current start, aren’t going to make the natives very happy.

This season’s opening day is clouded by a ton of issues, ranging from the club’s poor play to the revelation Wednesday that former manager Terry Francona will not be on the field for the 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park. Francona’s attitude – very much justified, by the way – of being totally upset with the reprehensible conduct of Red Sox management soon after his dismissal following last season goes into the same basket as the unapologetic attitude of some of the players, the hiring of Bobby Valentine as manager, the departure of general manager Theo Epstein and the subsequent botching of the compensation issue, not to mention that the club continues to ask the highest admission prices in the major leagues for this mess.

It’s tough to dress up a pig, but the Red Sox have made further improvements to the old ballpark, which opens this year on Friday the 13th, a couple of days prior to the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. What the Red Sox would have liked was a 5-1 road trip, with their starting pitchers firing on all cylinders, their hitters smacking the ball all over the place. The strong start of the team would make a nice segue into the April 20 anniversary party commemorating the first game played in the park. The Yankees will be in town, each club wearing throwback uniforms, dozens of former Red Sox players attending.

Now, attention has been diverted to this injured, flawed team, starting with a failure by the relief staff, which featured an opening-day walkoff loss thanks to Meltdown No. 1 by closer Alfredo Aceves, starter Josh Beckett surrendering five home runs in Game 2, a twin blown save situation by Aceves and Mark Melancon in a third straight loss to Texas in Game 3 and then two losses at Toronto.

Beckett will get a chance to redeem himself Friday, but there’s such a heavy burden on him with everybody and his sister knowing that he saw two thumb specialists prior to the start of the season. Meanwhile, Clay Buchholz showed little in his first start. Jon Lester (0-1, 2.40), who lost at Toronto Wednesday despite going eight innings and retiring 15 straight batters later in the game, hasn’t won in his two starts and Daniel Bard gave up eight hits and five runs in five innings of his first start for the club.

Red Sox bats aren’t exactly booming, either, with a .236 batting average, only two home runs, 51 strikeouts and a 38-22 run disadvantage. Kevin Youkilis is 2-for-20, Jacoby Ellsbury 3-for-23, there isn’t much backup on the bench, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield are gone (as is closer Jonathan Papelbon) and the Sox are now looking at the well-oiled Tampa Bay Rays in the first home series, followed by the Rangers and the Yankees.

This is what we’ll be faced with as the Sox line up along the first base line at 2 p.m. Friday. This is one Opening Day that’s not going to be all fun and games.

Mike Fine may be reached at mikefine@ledger.com.

 

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TORONTO (AP)

Ricky Romero used to struggle against the Boston Red Sox. Not anymore.

Romero outdueled Jon Lester, Yunel Escobar drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Boston 3-1 Wednesday to drop the Red Sox to 1-5.

”Ricky was the story here today,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell said.

Romero (1-0), who won just two of his first 11 career starts against the Red Sox, beat Boston for the third straight time. He earned back-to-back victories over the Red Sox during their historic swoon last September, beating them Sept. 8 at Toronto and Sept. 14 at Fenway Park.

The left-hander credited improved control and aggressiveness for his recent success against the Sox.

”I think at times against Boston I tried to do too much and walks killed me against them,” Romero said. ”I looked at video of my two (September) starts against them last year and it was just strike one, pound the zone and I had a good rhythm going against them.”

Boston’s Dustin Pedroia called Romero ”one of the best lefties in baseball,” and Kevin Youkilis was just as complimentary.

”He’s very effective,” Youkilis said. ”He’s the ace of that staff for a reason.”

Other than a third inning that saw the teams combine for five hits and three runs, the two starters were perfect until Lester (0-1) issued a two-out walk to Rajai Davis in the eighth, snapping a streak of 15 consecutive outs. Davis promptly stole second, beating the tag on a failed Red Sox pickoff play, then scored on Escobar’s single to center.

Romero saw his streak of 17 straight outs end when Jacoby Ellsbury and Pedroia drew back-to-back walks to begin the ninth. He left to a standing ovation after Adrian Gonzalez flied out to center, with both runners advancing on the play.

Sergio Santos came on to strike out Youkilis, then ended it by getting David Ortiz to ground out. The save was the first of the season for Santos, who had blown his first two chances.

”There was quite a bit on my mind just because of everything that’s happened,” said Santos, who coughed up the lead in the ninth inning of Monday’s home opener. ”It was nice to block all that out, get out there and throw some effective pitches.”

Romero allowed three hits, all singles, in 8 1-3 innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Lester allowed three runs and three hits in eight innings, walked three and struck out six in his seventh career complete game. Lester, who was beaten by Detroit’s Justin Verlander on opening day last Thursday, has not won since beating the Blue Jays at Toronto last Sept. 6, a span of six starts.

”You can’t ask for him to throw the ball any better than that,” Pedroia said. ”I feel horrible for him.”

Romero set down the first six batters he faced before giving up a run in the top of the third. Cody Ross and Mike Aviles led off with back-to-back singles but Ross was forced out at third on Kelly Shoppach’s attempted sacrifice bunt. Ellsbury followed with an RBI single to left, but Romero recovered by striking out Pedroia and getting Ortiz to ground out.

Lester, who had also retired the first six Blue Jays batters, couldn’t hold the lead. Eric Thames singled to begin the bottom half, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Davis’ one-out triple into the right field corner. Escobar followed with a sacrifice fly.

A year after losing their first six games to start the season, the Red Sox are 1-5 as they back to Fenway for Friday’s home opener against Tampa Bay.

”Obviously it’s not the way we wanted to start,” Lester said. ”Nobody wants to start this way.”

”We’re not playing good right now,” Lester added. ”The game’s we’ve pitched well we don’t hit, the game’s we don’t pitch well, we hit. We haven’t put it together right now. Nobody in this clubhouse wants to start slow, regardless of years past.”

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista went 0 for 3, extending his slump to 0 for 12. Bautista’s last base hit was an eight-inning single in Sunday’s 4-3 loss at Cleveland.

Bautista’s hitting woes aren’t hurting his play in right field: he made a sliding catch on Adrian Gonzalez to end the sixth, one of several fine defensive plays by the Blue Jays. Third baseman Brett Lawrie had the other highlight play, a diving catch of Cody Ross’s liner to begin the fifth.

Notes: The game was played in a brisk 2:13. … Blue Jays OF Ben Francisco made his first start of the season at designated hitter, while 1B Adam Lind was given the day off and replaced by Edwin Encarnacion. … Toronto Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul attended the game, and was booed when he was shown on the scoreboard. … The Red Sox are off Thursday before opening their home schedule Friday against the Rays, with Josh Beckett (0-1) facing David Price (1-0).

FORT MYERS, Fla. ? 

Aaron Cook is headed to the minors. But if he keeps pitching the way he did yesterday, he might not stay there long.

Cook threw five solid innings, Adrian Gonzalez had two hits, and the Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals, 4-2.

Cook allowed only two hits, including Danny Espinosa’s leadoff homer in the fourth. He struck out two, walked one and finished the spring with a 1.88 ERA.

Boston signed the veteran right-hander to a minor league contract in the offseason to provide pitching depth and another option at the back of the rotation.

The Red Sox were cautious with Cook early in the spring because of past health issues. His outing yesterday surprised manager Bobby Valentine.

“Coming in, I did not expect him to be giving us five pretty good innings the last day of spring training,” Valentine said. “So it’s a very pleasant development. I thought his sinker was really good today. And it’s great to have that kind of depth in our starting rotation. I think a few handful of outings like that where he builds up his pitch count and maintains his strength will be a pleasant happenstance.”

Cook is slated to go to Triple-A Pawtucket and work as a starter there.

“There’s always disappointment when they tell you you’re going down, but I took it all in stride,” Cook said. “I knew the situation when I signed here. And I’m just going to go out there and be the same pitcher whether it’s at Boston, Pawtucket, no matter where I’m at. I’m going to go out there, try to get ground-ball outs, and be very efficient.”

Franklin Morales worked a perfect ninth for the save.

Jordan Zimmermann tossed five innings for the Nationals in his final exhibition tuneup, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned). He dropped to 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in spring training but was satisfied with his outing.

“Yeah, I’m definitely ready,” Zimmermann said. “I felt pretty good today. Missed a few balls, made a few bad pitches, and I mean, these guys are some good hitters. Adrian Gonzalez is probably one of the best hitters in the league, and he showed it again today. I mean, I threw him the kitchen sink, and he still got two hits and a walk. Overall, I feel good and I’m ready to get going.”

The teams meet again today for another exhibition game in Washington.

Beckett being checked

Josh Beckett went to Texas yesterday to have his injured thumb examined, but Valentine said he expected the right-hander to make his scheduled start at Detroit this weekend in Boston’s second game of the season.

“He’s had a little situation that he was taking care of today … just for peace of mind,” Valentine said.

Still, right-hander Alfredo Aceves said he has been told to be ready to pitch Saturday’s game against the Tigers and the home opener against Tampa Bay on April 13 if Beckett is not able to start.

Beckett has a history of blisters on his pitching hand. Valentine said that was not the issue.

“Just been a little situation,” the manager said. “Think I might have mentioned it 10 days ago. It was a situation we were dealing with. I feel really good right now. But, as in all cases, you have to be prepared. I think we are. I think we’re covered whatever happens.”

Beckett threw 100 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday.

“Felt great. Hit location,” Valentine said.

Valentine said he “totally” expects Beckett to start Saturday.

Beckett was 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA in five spring training starts. He was expected to rejoin the team in Detroit for Opening Day rather than for today’s exhibition at Washington.

Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey was scheduled to have his right thumb examined in Boston yesterday.

Diamond Dust

Nationals infielder Steve Lombardozzi and outfielders Tracy, Carroll and Xavier Nady have all won spots on the Opening Day roster. Washington outfielders Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel, along with closer Drew Storen and right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, will begin the season on the disabled list. … Gonzalez raised his spring training average to .357. … Injured Red Sox players who will stay behind in Fort Myers to continue working out and rehabbing at the team’s training complex include pitchers Rich Hill, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Andrew Miller, John Lackey, Chris Carpenter and Bobby Jenks, left fielder Carl Crawford and outfielder Ryan Kalish.

After last season’s embarrassing late-season collapse, which featured drinking and eating in the clubhouse during games, the Red Sox will be looking to bounce back this season. Thus, many of their star players should be extra motivated. What does that mean for fantasy baseball owners? Here’s a look at the top five Red Sox in fantasy baseball and what you can expect from them in 2012.

Jon Lester (SP) — Lester has won at least 15 games in each of the last four seasons with an earned run average ranging between 3.21 and 3.47. In addition, the nasty southpaw has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning for his career. Lester is a notch below fantasy ace status, but he’s remarkably consistent and a great source for wins. This year’s pitching pool is deep, so don’t reach for him before round six.

Carl Crawford (OF) — Crawford has been the equal of projected first-round pick and teammate Jacoby Ellsbury. But he may be available at a discount after his off-the-cliff drop in production last season. Crawford’s stolen bases plummeted to 18 from 47 the year before—60 in 2009!—and his batting average tanked to .255. Crawford is one of the biggest risks on draft day, but I’d roll the dice on him in round five.

Dustin Pedroia (2B) — Pedroia may be the best pound-for-pound player in fantasy baseball. The BoSox second baseman, who missed more than half of 2010 due to injury, plays the game with reckless abandon, so there’s always a chance for injury. However, over the last four years, he is batting .307 and averaging 20 homers, 86 RBI and 116 runs scored per 162 games. He’s a safe choice in the second round.

Adrian Gonzalez (1B) — Many fantasy baseball owners predicted an easy 30 home runs for Gonzalez, who last season moved to hitter-friendly Fenway Park from vast PETCO Park. He blasted only 27 bombs, but compensated with a smoking .338 batting average. Frankly, most fantasy owners would trade in a few batting average point for more power. Either way, you can count on Gonzalez for solid numbers in both categories, plus at least 110 RBI. I can’t argue with taking him in the first or second round.

Jacoby Ellsbury (OF) — We all knew about his speed, but Ellsbury’s power surge of 32 home runs and 105 RBI last season sent shockwaves through fantasy baseball leagues. Ellsbury may not blast 30-something home runs again in 2012, but his ability to steal tons of bases, score runs and hit around .300 (he’s a career .301 hitter) makes him a first-round selection in almost all formats. There’s one fact, however, that troubles me: He had only 20 career home runs before last season.

* Unless otherwise noted, draft projections are based on participation in a 10-team fantasy baseball league with standard 5×5 scoring.

More fantasy baseball content from this Yahoo! contributor:

Fan’s Take: Top Five Toronto Blue Jays in Fantasy Baseball

Fan’s Take: Top Five Baltimore Orioles in Fantasy Baseball

Adam Martini is a freelance sports writer who roots for the New York Mets (and any team that is playing the New York Yankees ). A dedicated fantasy baseball player since 1998, his games of choice growing up were Strat-O-Matic and MicroLeague Baseball.

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com.

The Official Site of Major League Baseball.

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