Beckett goes to 8-0 in return to Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox didn’t need Josh Beckett in the rotation to open up a double-digit lead in the East Division.

It sure is nice to have him back though.

“It’s not about one player. It’s not about one pitcher,” first baseman Kevin Youkilis said after his home run helped Beckett return from the disabled list and win his eighth consecutive decision, a 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

With Julian Tavarez and some spot starters filling in for Beckett and Jon Lester, Boston has opened an 11 1/2 -game lead in the East while proving Curt Schilling right when he said of Roger Clemens, “We don’t need him.”

Nor have the Red Sox missed slugger David Ortiz for the last three games, when they extended their winning streak to five in a row. After resting a “barking” hamstring, he will return tonight, Manager Terry Francona said.

“We don’t need Papi,” Youkilis said jokingly. “Save him for the playoffs. If we need a big hit, a walkoff, we’ll bring him in.”

Beckett (8-0) went on the disabled list because of a torn flap of skin on his right middle finger. He pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, facing the minimum number of batters in the first six innings before giving up two seventh-inning runs.

Beckett struck out seven and walked one to become the first Red Sox starter to win his first eight decisions since Roger Clemens opened the 1986 season 14-0.

Around the league

Unlikely to return this weekend at Boston, the New York Yankees instead expect Roger Clemens to pitch Monday against the White Sox at Chicago.

Manager Joe Torre, however, hadn’t finalized his decision, saying, “Until I talk to him personally, it’s tough to pick a particular day.”