Beckett wins 20th, stops Red Sox slide
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Josh Beckett’s 20th win couldn’t have come at a better time for the Boston Red Sox.
The All-Star right-hander pitched six strong innings to become the first 20-game winner in the majors since 2005, and the Red Sox used late home runs by Jason Varitek, David Ortiz and Mike Lowell to pull away to an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday night.
The victory ended Boston’s four-game losing streak and reduced the East Division-leading Red Sox’s magic number to clinch at least a wild-card playoff berth to two. The skid matched their longest of the season.
Beckett (20-6) yielded one run and four hits, winning for the seventh time in his last eight decisions.
He walked two, struck out eight and retired the last 10 batters he faced after yielding a two-out single to Delmon Young in the third inning.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
