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September 4, 2007
BOSTON -- Josh Beckett, backed by home runs from Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis, became the major leagues' first 17-game winner as he outdueled Roy Halliday and led the Red Sox to a 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays Tuesday night.
Beckett, whose previous high in victories was 16, worked eight innings, scattering five hits and striking out seven. The only blemish was a two-out, three-run homer by the red-hot Matt Stairs in the fifth inning, cutting the Sox' lead at the time to 4-3.
Jonathan Papelbon, pitching for the third consecutive day for the first time all season, retired Toronto in order in the ninth for his 33rd save.
Coco Crisp drove in Boston's first run when he beat out a fielder's choice grounder by a hair with two outs in the fourth inning. Ellsbury followed with a shot into the Red Sox bullpen on the very next pitch, making it 3-0.
A double by Julio Lugo and a single by Dustin Pedroia extended the lead to 4-0.
The Sox added an insurance run in the eighth on a home run into the center-field bleachers by Youkilis.
Get the box score and other details here.
Posted by Art Martone 
at 9:42 PM | Permalink
