Royals  0    Red Sox  6

Recap: Boston vs. Kansas City

Sports Network | July 12, 2009

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Josh Beckett threw his fourth career shutout and second of the season on only 94 pitches for his 100th career win, as the Boston Red Sox cruised past the Royals, 6-0, in the finale of a four-game set at Fenway Park.

Beckett (11-3) has been one of baseball's hottest pitchers lately, as he allowed just three hits while fanning seven without issuing a walk. He has won nine of his last 10 decisions, dating back to May 5, and has recorded a quality start in 11 of his 13 outings in that span.

Aaron Bates went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored for the Red Sox (54-34), who head into the All-Star break with the best record in the American League. Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Rocco Baldelli each had a pair of hits in the victory.

Jason Bay accomplished a rare feat in the game, recording five plate appearances without an official at-bat. The Red Sox All-Star outfielder was walked three times and hit by a pitch twice, as the first 15 pitches he saw were out of the strike zone.

It was the first time a player had recorded such a game since July 30, 2008, when Alex Gordon did it for the Royals.

David DeJesus doubled, one of only three hits for Kansas City (37-51), which has lost five of six and sits in fourth place in the AL Central. Bruce Chen (0-4) lasted only three-plus innings and allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts to extend his winless streak to 18 starts.

Boston grabbed the lead in the opening inning. Pedroia doubled with one down and scored on Youkilis' single to center.

The Red Sox extended their advantage to 4-0 in the fourth. Nick Green worked a walk to lead off, and Bates doubled him in for a two-run edge.

The hit ended Chen's outing, and Jacoby Ellsbury greeted Robinson Tejeda with a bunt. Tejeda threw to third to try to get Bates, but the runner was safe, and Pedroia walked to load the bases, still with nobody out.

Two batters later, David Ortiz hit an RBI groundout, and Bay and Jason Varitek worked back-to-back walks to score another run and cap the frame.

Ellsbury grounded into a double play in the fifth that scored Green for a 5-0 advantage.

Baldelli's RBI double gave Boston a 6-0 lead following the eighth inning.

Meanwhile, Beckett was nearly untouchable, setting down the Royals in order in seven of nine innings. Only one runner reached third base in the affair.

Chen has not won since his final start of 2005 while with Baltimore...The Red Sox won the series, 3-1...Beckett is 6-0 in nine home starts this season and moved to 4-0 in six career starts against Kansas City...Boston has won five of six overall...Bay's feat was the 40th time since 1954 a player has recorded five plate appearances and no at-bats. No player has ever had more than five in that time period.