Another Josh Beckett Beauty! Boston Red Sox 4 Baltimore Orioles 0

In front of the fourth largest Camden Yards crowd EVER, Josh Beckett pitched the Boston Red Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Kevin Youkilis looks like he's emerging from his slump with a four for four day and Victor Martinez stroked his first Red Sox hit. Beckett, who earned his AL leading 13th win, went seven glorious innings and allowed six hits, five of 'em harmless singles, with five strikeouts and two bases on ball. He was in command thoughout his stint. The Baltimore manager had words of praise for the Boston ace...

“Beckett showed tonight why he’s one of the game’s best,’’ Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “He’s throwing 89-90-mile-per-hour changeups or cutters, 97-mile-per-hour fastballs in on your hands. The guy’s just one of the game’s best.’’

More Oriole praise...

"It's really hard to go out there against a guy with Beckett's stuff and have him hit his spots like he did," Orioles designated hitter Luke Scott said. "He's one of the toughest in the league. He's just got tremendous stuff. He's a great competitor, and his location is just fantastic."

And he's ours, Luke. Hideki Okajima pitched a two hit scoreless eighth and the untouchable Daniel Bard, a future SUPERstar, had a 1-2-3 ninth. Manager Terry Francona had these glowing words to say about the curveball and flame-throwing bullpen pitcher whose name will soon be known to everybody in the major league baseball universe. Strong words? Oh yeah, but true...

“We’re seeing a young man right in front of our eyes mature,” Francona said. “I don’t care how old you are. What he’s done these last six weeks has been pretty special and fun to watch.”

My goodness! Coupled with another Yankees loss to the Chicago White Sox, Boston is only one half game behind them. It'll be
Berkin and Buchholz at Camden this afternoon...enjoy it. First pitch will be at 1:35pm EDT. Have a great Sunday, click on this post's title for more Sox stuff and as always, BE WELL. See ya.