Blue Jays pound Josh Beckett, Red Sox in 15-4 win

[August 18, 2008]  BOSTON (AP) -- Alex Rios went 5-for-6 and matched a club record with four doubles and the Toronto Blue Jays knocked Boston ace Josh Beckett out after 2 1-3 innings in a 15-4 victory over Red Sox on Sunday.

Adam Lind had a solo homer and four RBIs and John McDonald added three hits and three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who won their fifth in six games and improved to 6-2 against the Red Sox this season. The teams meet again for three games in Toronto next weekend.

Boston lost consecutive games for the first time in August and fell to 21-23 within divisional play, its only losing record against a division. The Red Sox open a nine-game road trip -- all against AL East teams -- Monday night in Baltimore.

Shaun Marcum (8-5) gave up one run and five hits in five innings. He's won his last three starts, allowing four runs in 18 innings.

Beckett (11-9), coming off a splendid outing Monday in Chicago when held the White Sox to one run in eight innings, was tagged for eight runs and eight hits in his shortest start since going 1 1-3 innings against the Yankees on June 5, 2006.

Toronto scored in all but two innings and equaled its season-high with 22 hits, the most Boston pitchers have given up this year.

Kevin Youkilis hit his 23rd homer and Dustin Pedroia his 12th -- both solo shots -- for the Red Sox.

The Blue Jays sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six times against Beckett in the first. After Joe Inglett opened the game by striking out, the next six hitters reached. Marco Scutaro singled, Rios doubled and Vernon Wells walked to load the bases before Lind's RBI single to left. Rios also scored on the play when Jason Bay bobbled the ball, making it 2-0.

Lyle Overbay singled in a pair after Rob Barajas was hit by a pitch. McDonald added a two-run double to make it 6-0.

Lind homered deep into the right-field seats leading off the third. One out later, Overbay, the last batter Beckett faced, doubled. Brad Wilkerson greeted reliever David Aardsma with a triple that rolled around the right-field corner, making it 8-0.

Boston manager Terry Francona pulled starting catcher Jason Varitek and first baseman Youkilis after four innings. Right fielder J.D. Drew left with tightness in his lower back after three.

Notes: Rios equaled his career-high with five hits and became the third Blue Jays player with four doubles, the first since Shannon Stewart on July 18, 2000. ... The Blue Jays set a club record with 10 doubles. ... Toronto homered in its sixth straight game, matching a season-high also done April 18-23. ... Former Red Sox manager Dick Williams, inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. on July 27th, was honored during an on-field ceremony before the game. ... The Blue Jays open a six-game homestand against the Yankees on Tuesday. ... Boston RHP Clay Buchholz, pushed back in the rotation after recent struggles and again with a rainout Friday, gave up a run in an inning of relief.

[Associated Press; By DAVE SKRETTA]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.