BOSTON — If there was any question that Josh Beckett is officially a star — his struggles in April and early May led to that talk — it is officially over.
Beckett allowed only three hits and didn't walk a batter in going nine innings to register his second complete game of the season. He needed only 94 pitches.
"What can you say?" said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "Josh was Josh."
Over the last two months, "Josh was Josh" has meant just short of perfect.
Beckett has not allowed an earned run in six of his last 10 starts, one of the best runs of his career. He is now 9-1 over his last 13 starts.
It was also Beckett's 100th career win in the majors, and he continued his unbeatable streak at Fenway in 2009, improving to 6-0 (2.44 ERA) in 62 innings.
Beckett, though, laid praise for what appeared to be an easy win at some of his fielders as well as the Royals hitters.
"We played good defense which can cover up mistakes," said Beckett. "(The Royals) have a pretty aggressive approach. It was a lot of pitching and contact, especially in the middle of the game. But like I said, we played good defense. Nick Green made some good plays on balls hit right at him, but they were hit hard and I think each one of the outfielders all made at least one good play."
Little League move
While the win helped the Red Sox (54-34) improve to a three-game advantage over the New York Yankees, there was one particular play that left a sour taste entering the three-day break.
With one out in the eighth inning and men on second and third, Sox backup utility outfielder Rocco Baldelli was tagged out going to third base on a fly ball to center field by Nick Green. What made it worse was the fact that Jason Bay, who was tagging up at third base and going home, was ruled to have touched home after Baldelli was tagged, thus taking the potential seventh run off the board.
The problem was at third base because Baldelli would have been safe if he slid. Apparently, third base coach Demarlo Hale's slide sign was not read properly by Baldelli.
Kottaras' glove heads to St. Louis
Before Tim Wakefield left the clubhouse after yesterday's game, he got a handshake from his personal catcher, George Kottaras, who was congratulating him for his trip to St. Louis.
After saying "Thanks," Wakefield reminded Kottaras that he needed something to take to St. Louis — Kottaras' catcher's mitt.
The mitt is specially made for catching knuckleballs, with a pocket about twice as big as a normal catcher's mitt.
Wakefield went over to Kottaras' locker stall and put it in his bag headed for St. Louis.
Whoever catches for Wakefield at the All-Star game will use it.
Bates for president
Fill-in first baseman Aaron Bates recorded his first big league extra base hit — a double in the second inning — and finished 3 for 4, adding another double. He is the first Red Sox player to record a three-hit effort in his first five major league games since Nomar Garciaparra on Sept. 1, 1996.
"You could tell he felt good about himself," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "Hits to center, hits two balls to right, pulls a ball hard down the left field line. It lines up real well. It should benefit him and us." ...
Francona said Clay Buchholz, who is 7-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 17 appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket this season, will start Boston's first game after the All-Star break Friday at Toronto.
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