Beckett Blanks Angels

After allowing a leadoff single in the first, Beckett retired 19 batters in a row.

Josh Beckett, backed by a solo homer by Kevin Youkilis and a two-run shot by David Ortiz, lifted the Red Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Angels in Game 1 of this best-of-five American League Division Series at Fenway Park.

BOSTON - The stage was brighter and the atmosphere was more tense, yet Josh Beckett and the Red Sox never so much as blinked at the added pressure.

Dominant all season long, Beckett managed to take his game to another level on Wednesday night, and the Angels never seemed to have a chance.

The ace right-hander -- backed by a solo homer by Kevin Youkilis and a two-run shot by David Ortiz -- lifted the Red Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Angels in Game 1 of this best-of-five American League Division Series at Fenway Park.

Beckett, who went 20-7 during his breakout season, picked up right where he left off in his first postseason outing since Game 6 of the 2003 World Series, when he willed the Marlins past the Yankees.

Four years later, Beckett is more polished and even more confident.

On this night, the Angels were left to pay the price.

After allowing a leadoff single in the first, Beckett retired 19 batters in a row.

The Angels had a top-notch pitcher of their own on the hill in John Lackey, but the Red Sox set an early tone.

Youkilis belted Lackey's 92-mph offering over the Green Monster for a solo homer to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the first.

Beckett mowed down nine of the first 10 batters he faced, buying the Red Sox time to stretch out their lead.

David Ortiz did just that, unloading on a hanging breaking ball by Lackey for a two-run homer into the box seats in right. It was Ortiz's ninth career homer in postseason play, tying him with Jason Varitek for the club record.

Manny Ramirez kept the pressure on by following Ortiz with a walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single up the middle by Mike Lowell.

The last thing the Angels wanted to do against Beckett was dig themselves into a 4-0 hole. The ace took a one-hit shutout in the sixth.

Story by: Ian Browne

Courtesy: MLB.com

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