Boston completed the sweep of the day-night doubleheader as Josh Beckett earned the win in the first game and Jason Varitek shined going 2-3 with a homer and four RBI’s in the 11-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Beckett is the first pitcher in both leagues to reach the 16 win mark and has strengthened his case to be the American League Cy Young Award winne.
Curt Schilling, in the second game of the doubleheader, earned his 8th win of the season as David Ortiz homered twice and drove in three runs, Kevin Youkilis brought home three runs on a three run homer off of Gavin Floyd and Mike Lowell who had two RBI’s in the day game pitched in with another two RBI’s in this one.
Ortiz hit his 22nd and 23rd homeruns of the season in the fourth and fifth innings of the ball game both coming on first pitch of each at-bat.
The Red Sox eventually won 10-1 as John Danks picked up his 6th loss of the season only pitching for 3 1/3 innings giving up five runs while only throwing 57 pitches before being yanked.
Boston had a combined 28 hits between both games and scored 21 runs in both contests.
Beckett earned his league leading 16th win by pitching for 5 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits, allowing three runs, and struck out four White Sox.
Beckett walked the bases loaded in the first inning and Josh Fields hit a two-run homer to round out the scoring in the day game against the White Sox.
Schilling pitched for 6 innings, letting up three hits, one run, while walking one and striking out three as Boston improved their record to 78-51 by completing the day-night doubleheader sweep.
Tim Wakefield (15-10), 4.35 ERA will face Mark Buehrle (9-8), 3.42 ERA at 3:55 p.m as the Boston knuckeballer looks to tie Beckett for the league lead in wins.
