BOSTON: Josh Beckett allowed two hits in eight shutout innings to help the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 4-0 in the American League Sunday to take two out of three games from their rivals in the series. Beckett (1-1) was dropped to fourth in the season-opening rotation but struck out 10 and walked one while retiring the last 14 batters he faced. The Red Sox returned home after losing their first six games of the season – their worst start since 1945. They ended that streak by beating the Yankees 9-6 on Friday before losing 9-4 on Saturday. Dustin Pedroia reached base all five times he went to bat with three singles, an intentional walk and a force play. Mike Cameron had a run-scoring single, David Ortiz doubled home a run and Marco Scutaro had a two-run double for Boston. Other results: Athletics 5, Twins 3; Angels 3, Blue Jays 1; Indians 6, Mariners 4; Rangers 3, Orioles 0; Royals 9, Tigers 5; White Sox 6, Rays 1. Victorino lifts Phillies Cole Hamels combined with two relievers on a five-hitter and Shane Victorino capped a big series with three hits to lead the Philadelphia Phillies past the Atlanta Braves 3-0 in the National League Sunday. Hamels (1-1) gave up four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in seven innings to beat Derek Lowe (1-2), who allowed seven hits and two runs in seven innings. Victorino had nine hits in the series with the Braves, including his first homer on Sunday. Ryan Madson pitched the eighth and Jose Contreras worked a perfect ninth for his second save. Cardinals 6, Giants 1: At San Francisco, David Freese hit a homer and three RBIs and Kyle Lohse allowed one run in eight innings to help St. Louis end a three-game losing streak. Matt Holliday scored the go-ahead run and added an RBI single in his first game since having an appendectomy April 1. Skip Schumaker added a two-run double to help the Cardinals win for just the third time in nine games this season. Lohse (1-1) allowed five hits, and Trever Miller pitched a scoreless ninth. The Giants failed to complete their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals since 2001. Other results: Diamondbacks 10, Reds 8; Brewers 6, Cubs 5; Rockies 6, Pirates 5; Astros 7, Marlins 1; Nationals 7, Mets 3, 11 innings; Padres 7, Dodgers 2
