Josh Beckett was masterful against the New York Yankees on Saturday night, allowing four hits and zero earned runs while striking out nine in six innings as the Boston Red Sox coasted to a 6-0 victory at Yankee Stadium.
Boston (19-20) has now won the first two games of this three-game weekend set in the Bronx, and will go for the series sweep on Sunday evening. The Red Sox are 4-1 in five meetings with the Yankees this season.
Adrian Gonzalez (1-for-5) provided the pop at the plate, clubbing a three-run homer in the seventh inning to cap off the scoring for Boston. Jacoby Ellsbury (2-for-4) drove in two runs on a double to left in the fifth inning and Jason Varitek (1-for-3) singled to right in the seventh, allowing Mike Cameron (1-for-3) to advance to third and ultimately score on a fielding error from Nick Swisher (1-for-3).
Curtis Granderson hat the hot hand at the dish for the Yankees (20-17), going 2-for-4. CC Sabathia started on the mound for New York and gave up six earned runs on seven hits while striking out six in six and two thirds innings.
Matt Albers pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Beckett, striking out two while allowing two hits and one walk. Rich Hill shut the door on the Yankees in the ninth inning, giving up one hit while recording two strikeouts.
Controversy ensued in the Yankees clubhouse prior to the game, as catcher/designated hitter Jorge Posada reportedly refused to bat ninth in the lineup, threw a fit and removed himself from the lineup.