Recap: Boston vs. Atlanta

Sports Network | June 20, 2009

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Josh Beckett threw a five-hitter for his first shutout of the season, as the Boston Red Sox blanked the Atlanta Braves, 3-0, in the middle contest of their three-game interleague series.

Beckett (8-3) did not walk a batter, struck out seven, and threw only 94 pitches (67 for strikes). It was the right-hander's first complete game of the season and third career shutout -- but first since 2005, when he pitched for the Marlins.

Jason Varitek hit a pair of doubles, while Nick Green finished 2-for-3 with a run driven in for the Red Sox, who dropped Friday's series-opener by an 8-2 score. Saturday's victory snapped a two-game slide, and gave Boston the chance to take its fourth consecutive series.

Derek Lowe (7-5) got the start for Atlanta and was solid in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out two in the loss.

The Braves only mustered five singles in the setback, which snapped a two-game win streak.

A pitchers' duel over the first four innings, Boston got a run in the fifth, sixth and seventh frames to move ahead.

Back-to-back two-out doubles from Varitek and Green in the fifth got the Red Sox on the board. J.D. Drew led off the sixth with a double and scored on Kevin Youkilis' subsequent single, making it a 2-0 game.

Dustin Pedroia's RBI groundout off Jeff Bennett in the seventh then put Boston up three, which was more than enough run support for Beckett.

The Boston starter got stronger as the game progressed, setting Atlanta down in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Martin Prado hit into a fielder's choice in the eighth and moved to second on Casey Kotchman's single. But Jeff Francoeur grounded into an inning-ending double play to kill the rally, and Beckett worked a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the win.

Lowe, who pitched eight seasons for Boston (1997-2004) and helped the Red Sox win a World Series in 2004, received a standing ovation when he was removed in the seventh inning...Atlanta went 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position and left two on base, while Boston was 3-for-8 with RISP and stranded six.