TORONTO (AP) — Brett Lawrie homered in the 11th inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to a 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

Lawrie homered to center off Dan Wheeler (2-2) with two outs in the 11th, his eighth homer since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 4.

Shawn Camp (3-3) pitched one scoreless inning for the win as the Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak.

Boston lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Red Sox starter Josh Beckett left in the fourth inning with a sprained right ankle. Manager Terry Francona and trainer Mike Reinold came to the mound after the right-hander threw a ball to Lawrie. After a brief discussion, Beckett walked off the field without assistance and was replaced by right-hander Alfredo Aceves.

An All-Star for the third time this season, Beckett came in having won his past three starts. He allowed three hits in 3 2-3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and one walk.

Blue Jays right-hander Henderson Alvarez pitched six scoreless innings, extending his shutout streak to 14 innings. Alvarez allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four.

Alvarez retired the first eight batters in order before Marco Scutaro singled in the third. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled him to third but Dustin Pedroia grounded out to end the threat.

The Red Sox put runners at first and second with two outs in the fourth but Josh Reddick struck out looking.

Scutaro hit a one-out double in the fifth but was caught in a rundown after Alvarez grabbed Ellsbury’s grounder to the mound. Ellsbury tried to advance to second but was thrown out, completing the 1-5-6 double play.

Carlos Villanueva replaced Alvarez and walked Kevin Youkilis to begin the seventh. After Carl Crawford flied out, Reddick singled to right and both runners advanced on Jason Varitek’s grounder. Scutaro ended the inning by grounding out to shortstop.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-out double off Casey Janssen in the eighth and David Ortiz was intentionally walked to bring up Youkilis, who struck out looking.

Toronto put a runner at third base three times in the first four innings. Edwin Encarnacion struck out to end the first, Jose Molina grounded out and Dewayne Wise struck out in the second and, after Aceves walked Lawrie in the fourth, Molina ended the inning by flying out to right.

Aceves left after walking Mike McCoy and hitting Eric Thames with one out in the eighth. Daniel Bard came on and got Jose Bautista to fly out, then struck out Adam Lind.

Jonathan Papelbon struck out Lind on three pitches to leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th.

NOTES: Boston recalled C Ryan Lavarnway and RHP Kyle Weiland and purchased the contract of INF Nate Spears, all from Triple-A Pawtucket. … Red Sox LHP Erik Bedard (left knee) will be skipped in his next scheduled start, Friday at Tampa Bay. … Francona said RHP Bobby Jenks (back) is unlikely to pitch again this season. … Blue Jays SS Yunel Escobar (left wrist) missed his second straight game. … Toronto reinstated RHP Dustin McGowan (shoulder) off the 60-day DL. McGowan last pitched in the majors July 8, 2008. … Blue Jays manager John Farrell returned after missing 10 games with pneumonia. … Wise made a superb diving catch on Crawford’s sinking liner to center to begin the ninth.

September 3, 2011

Red Sox bats silent, Miller wild in loss

The Salem News

Sat Sep 03, 2011, 05:53 AM EDT

BOSTON (AP) — Derek Holland allowed two hits in seven innings and got his usual strong support as the Texas Rangers hit three homers and beat the Boston Red Sox 10-0 on Friday night.

The Rangers’ first homer came on a three-run shot by Ian Kinsler in the second. In the fifth, David Murphy hit a solo homer and Elvis Andrus added a two-run blast after a single by Craig Gentry.

The Rangers came in scoring 7.29 runs per game for Holland (13-5) — a major-league best for a pitcher — but he didn’t need much backing, holding Boston to a pair of singles by Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez. Neither made it to second base as Ellsbury was caught stealing and Gonzalez was stranded when Kevin Youkilis struck out.

Murphy went 4 for 5 and Andrus scored four runs as Texas posted its 12th road shutout, the most in the majors since Atlanta had 12 in 1998.

Holland won for the seventh time in eight decisions, striking out six and walking none. Merkin Valdez and Michael Gonzalez finished up with one hitless inning each.

For the 14th time in Holland’s last 19 starts, the Rangers scored in the first inning.

They took charge from the start against a wild Andrew Miller (6-2), scoring two in the first and four in the second. Miller left after retiring just four batters — one on a sacrifice fly and one on a sac bunt. Michael Bowden allowed an RBI single by Adrian Beltre that made it 7-0 in the fourth.

Miller’s usual control problems had subsided in his previous three starts with a total of five walks. But on Friday he walked the first two batters, Kinsler and Andrus, before striking out Josh Hamilton. Michael Young then singled in a run and Beltre followed with a sacrifice fly.

Yorvit Torrealba led off the second with a single and took second base on a single by Murphy. Gentry then sacrificed both and Kinsler hit his 24th homer of the year. Miller’s wildness returned as he loaded the bases on a walk to Andrus, a single by Hamilton and a walk to Young.

Bowden came in and retired Beltre on a fly ball before forcing in a run on a walk to Mike Napoli that made it 6-0.

Notes: The Red Sox sellout streak reached 700 games since May 15, 2003 with a crowd of 38,083. … Youkilis was activated from the 15-day disabled list after recovering from a low back strain. … Leonys Martin singled in his first major league at-bat in the eighth as a pinch hitter for Hamilton. Martin defected from Cuba after its national team played in Japan at the FISU World Championship in July and August 2010. … Napoli was the only Rangers starter without a hit. … Red Sox LF Carl Crawford was a late scratch from because of illness. He was replaced by Conor Jackson, who played his first game since being obtained Wednesday night from the Oakland Athletics. … David Ortiz’s hitting streak ended at 15 games. … Colby Lewis (11-9) pitches for Texas against Erik Bedard (4-9) in Saturday’s second game of the three-game series.

Thursday September 1, 2011

BOSTON — Jacoby Ellsbury hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the sixth inning, Josh Beckett improved to 4-0 against the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox came from behind for a 9-5 win on Wednesday night.

The Red Sox, who lost the series opener 5-2 on Tuesday night, extended their AL East lead over the Yankees to 11Ž2 games and improved their record to 11-3 this season against their division rivals.

David Ortiz and Jason Varitek also hit two-run homers for Boston.

The Yankees scored four runs in the sixth off Beckett (12-5) — the same amount they managed in his other 32 innings against them this season — and went ahead 5-4.

In the bottom of the inning, Phil Hughes (4-5) retired the first batter. Then he went ahead of Josh Reddick 0-2 before walking him, and Reddick scored the tying run on Varitek’s double. After Marco Scutaro flied out, left-hander Boone Logan came in to face lefty Ellsbury. On a 3-and-1 count, Ellsbury hit his 24th homer into the left-field seats above the Green Monster.

Beckett allowed four earned runs and six hits through seven innings. He struck out eight and walked three.

Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a scoreless inning and the Red Sox improved to 62-3 this season when leading after six.

The Yankees had taken a 1-0 lead in the third on Derek Jeter’s RBI single. The Red Sox went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning, scoring on Dustin

Pedroia’s groundout with runners at second and third and on Jed Lowrie’s RBI single.

Jeter got his second single in the top of the fifth, moving into 20th place all-time, ahead of Craig Biggio, with 3,061 career hits. He was left stranded.

Boston made it 4-1 in the fifth on Ortiz’s homer deep into the center field bleachers after Adrian Gonzalez singled. It was Ortiz’s 28th homer of the year and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Yankees regained the lead in the sixth, helped by an error by right fielder Reddick.

Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, took second on a wild pitch by Beckett and scored on a double by Robinson Cano. Nick Swisher then walked and Eric Chavez followed with a liner down the right field line. It got by Reddick and Chavez was credited with a double. The error allowed him to take third and Swisher to score. Eduardo Nunez’s sacrifice fly put the Yankees on top 5-4.

Varitek gave the Red Sox a four-run cushion in the eighth with his 10th homer.

NOTES: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez missed his fourth straight game with a sprained left thumb. … Red Sox 3B Kevin Youkilis, on the DL since Aug. 18 with a low back strain, played his second straight rehab game for Triple-A Pawtucket and can be activated on Friday. … Boston RF J.D. Drew missed the second game of his scheduled two-day rehab assignment at Pawtucket on Wednesday night with a sprained middle finger. He was hurt Tuesday night when he went 3 for 3. Plans for the Red Sox to activate him on Thursday may change. He went on the disabled list on July 26, retroactive to July 20, with a shoulder injury. … Yankees C Russell Martin, with a sore left thumb, missed the game. Manager Joe Girardi said he planned to use him Thursday night in the finale of the three-game series. … Struggling RHP A.J. Burnett (9-11) faces LHP Jon Lester (14-6) tonight.

BOSTON (AP) — New York’s bats finally came to life against Josh Beckett. Phil Hughes was looking fairly sharp, then suddenly a moth flies into one of his eyes and the Yankees again unravel against the Boston Red Sox.

Yep, a moth.

Brings back memories of a Yankees’ playoff loss in Cleveland when small bugs flew around reliever Joba Chamberlain against the Indians in 2007.

Jacoby Ellsbury hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the sixth inning and Beckett improved to 4-0 against New York, sending the Yankees to their 11th loss in 14 games against the Red Sox this season with a 9-5 defeat on Wednesday night.

New York had just scored four runs against Beckett in the sixth to grab a 5-4 lead.

Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Phil Hughes (4-5) retired the first batter. He got ahead of Josh Reddick 0-2 before walking him on a 3-2 pitch as the moth flew into one of his eyes.

“From what I heard a moth flew into his eye when he made the 3-2 pitch,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “You can’t stop it and can’t get a redo.”

Reddick then scored the tying run on Jason Varitek’s double down the third-base line. After Marco Scutaro flied out, left-hander Boone Logan came in to face lefty Ellsbury. On a 3-and-1 count, Ellsbury hit his 24th homer into the left-field seats above the Green Monster.

“I really didn’t want to tell you guys that, but, yeah, a moth flew in,” Hughes said. “That’s why I yanked it.”

That was it. Three runs against the Yankees after one moth.

“A couple of mistakes that basically cost us,” Hughes said. “I made some mistakes that cost us the game.”

The Red Sox, who lost the series opener 5-2 on Tuesday night, extended their AL East lead over the Yankees to 1½ games and improved their record to 11-3 this season against their division rivals.

David Ortiz and Varitek also hit two-run homers for Boston.

The Yankees’ four runs in the sixth off Beckett (12-5) were the same amount they managed in his other 32 innings against them this season. Beckett allowed four earned runs and six hits through seven innings. He struck out eight and walked three.

Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a scoreless inning and the Red Sox improved to 62-3 this season when leading after six.

The Yankees had taken a 1-0 lead in the third on Derek Jeter’s RBI single. The Red Sox went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning, scoring on Dustin Pedroia’s groundout with runners at second and third and on Jed Lowrie’s RBI single.

Jeter got his second single in the top of the fifth, moving into 20th place all-time, ahead of Craig Biggio, with 3,061 career hits. He was left stranded.

Boston made it 4-1 in the fifth on Ortiz’s homer deep into the center field bleachers after Adrian Gonzalez singled. It was Ortiz’s 28th homer of the year and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Yankees regained the lead in the sixth, helped by an error by right fielder Reddick.

Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, took second on a wild pitch by Beckett and scored on a double by Robinson Cano. Nick Swisher then walked and Eric Chavez followed with a liner down the right field line. It got by Reddick and Chavez was credited with a double. The error allowed him to take third and Swisher to score. Eduardo Nunez’s sacrifice fly put the Yankees on top 5-4.

Varitek gave the Red Sox a four-run cushion in the eighth with his 10th homer.

Notes: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez missed his fourth straight game with a sprained left thumb. … Red Sox 3B Kevin Youkilis, on the DL since Aug. 18 with a low back strain, played his second straight rehab game for Triple-A Pawtucket and can be activated on Friday. … Boston RF J.D. Drew missed the second game of his scheduled two-day rehab assignment at Pawtucket on Wednesday night with a sprained middle finger. He was hurt Tuesday night when he went 3 for 3. Plans for the Red Sox to activate him on Thursday may change. He went on the disabled list on July 26, retroactive to July 20, with a shoulder injury. … Yankees C Russell Martin, with a sore left thumb, missed the game. Manager Joe Girardi said he planned to use him Thursday night in the finale of the three-game series. But he left the clubhouse with his left thumb wrapped after the game. … Struggling RHP A.J. Burnett (9-11) faces LHP Jon Lester (14-6) on Thursday night.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BOSTON Jacoby Ellsbury hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning, Josh Beckett improved to 4-0 against the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox came from behind for a 9-5 win on Wednesday night.

The Red Sox, who lost the series opener 5-2 on Tuesday night, extended their AL East lead over the Yankees to 1 ½ games and improved their record to 11-3 this season against their division rivals.

David Ortiz and Jason Varitek also hit two-run homers for Boston.

The Yankees scored four runs in the sixth off Beckett (12-5) — the same amount they managed in his other 32 innings against them this season — and went ahead 5-4.

In the bottom of the inning, Phil Hughes (4-5) retired the first batter. Then he went ahead of Josh Reddick 0-2 before walking him, and Reddick scored the tying run on Varitek’s double. After Marco Scutaro flied out, left-hander Boone Logan came in to face lefty Ellsbury. On a 3-and-1 count, Ellsbury hit his 24th homer into the left-field seats above the Green Monster.

Beckett allowed four earned runs and six hits through seven innings. He struck out eight and walked three.

Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a scoreless inning and the Red Sox improved to 62-3 this season when leading after six.

The Yankees had taken a 1-0 lead in the third on Derek Jeter’s RBI single. The Red Sox went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning, scoring on Dustin Pedroia’s groundout with runners at second and third and on Jed Lowrie’s RBI single.

Jeter got his second single in the top of the fifth, moving into 20th place all-time, ahead of Craig Biggio, with 3,061 career hits. He was left stranded.

Boston made it 4-1 in the fifth on Ortiz’s homer deep into the centre field bleachers after Adrian Gonzalez singled. It was Ortiz’s 28th homer of the year and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Yankees regained the lead in the sixth, helped by an error by right fielder Reddick.

Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, took second on a wild pitch by Beckett and scored on a double by Robinson Cano. Nick Swisher then walked and Eric Chavez followed with a liner down the right field line. It got by Reddick and Chavez was credited with a double. The error allowed him to take third and Swisher to score. Eduardo Nunez’s sacrifice fly put the Yankees on top 5-4.

Varitek gave the Red Sox a four-run cushion in the eighth with his 10th homer.

NOTES: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez missed his fourth straight game with a sprained left thumb. … Red Sox 3B Kevin Youkilis, on the DL since Aug. 18 with a low back strain, played his second straight rehab game for triple-A Pawtucket and can be activated on Friday. … Boston RF J.D. Drew missed the second game of his scheduled two-day rehab assignment at Pawtucket on Wednesday night with a sprained middle finger. He was hurt Tuesday night when he went 3 for 3. Plans for the Red Sox to activate him on Thursday may change. He went on the disabled list on July 26, retroactive to July 20, with a shoulder injury. … Yankees C Russell Martin of Chelsea, Que., with a sore left thumb, missed the game. Manager Joe Girardi said he planned to use him Thursday night in the finale of the three-game series. … Struggling RHP A.J. Burnett (9-11) faces LHP Jon Lester (14-6) on Thursday night.

The Associated Press