Sox Summary: Beltre slams Sox to series split of Tribe

The Red Sox did not have a hit into the fourth inning, but that all changed with one swing of the bat as Adrian Beltre paced the Red Sox in a 6-2 victory over Cleveland at Fenway Park.

Beltre connected for his eighth career grand slam in the fourth inning to deep left-center field (20), his 1st since September 21, 2006 at the White Sox while with Seattle. It was Boston’s fifth slam of the season, first since David Ortiz on July 30, the club’s most since hitting six in 2008. The grand slam extended Beltre’s hitting streak to 11 games, tied for his longest this season, also June 10-22.

J.D. Drew’s two-run single to center field in the eighth rounded out the scoring.

Cleveland got a solo homer from Shin-Soo Choo in the first (14) and a ninth-inning single by Luis Valbuena.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was outstanding for the win to improve to 8-3. He surrendered five hits, a run, and a walk over eight innings, while Jonathan Papelbon got two outs for the save, his 26th. One pitch hooked Josh Tomlin to the loss as he allowed four hits and four runs (all on the Beltre slam) over six innings.

The Sox now begin a four-game series against the Yankees in the Bronx. Clay Buchholz is set to face Javier Vasquez in the series opener on Friday night.

NOTES

* Terry Francona said Kevin Youkilis will have season-ending surgery Friday on his right thumb tomorrow in Cleveland. Dr. Thomas Graham, who examined the first baseman today, will perform the surgery. Youkilis will be immobilized for six weeks before being evaluated. He is expected to be ready well before the start of spring training.

* Major League Baseball has issued discipline to six players and a coach stemming from the on-field incident that occurred in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement. Cleveland’s Jensen Lewis and Boston’s Josh Beckett, Mike Cameron, Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis were all on the field during the incident and fined because of that.

Sox Summary: Masterson masterful again vs. Sox

Justin Masterson topped the Red Sox for the second time this season as the Indians were 9-1 winners at Fenway Park on Wednesday.

The Indians have won two of the series’ three games as Masterson improved to 4-10. Jon Lester took the loss for the Sox, dropping to 11-7 as he gave up seven hits and four runs over five innings.

NOTES

* Jon Lester left the game with a cramp in his left hamstring. It was a product of the humidity and a lack of sleep as his wife had their first child last week. He seemed to be fine after the game.

* Kevin Youkilis will see a hand specialist in Cleveland on Thursday to further determine the extent of his injury.

* Before Wednesday’s game, the Sox activated outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Daniel Nava to Triple-A Pawtucket. He went 0-for-5 in the leadoff spot in his first action since being put on the DL on May 28.

Sorry for the lack of Sox coverage over these past few days. We are on tight schedule over the next week and a half, so we will try to get you as much information as possible through posts and our Red Sox page.

Sox Notes: Welcome Back, Justin!

(Jim Davis/Boston Globe file)

Justin Masterson will return to Fenway Park tonight when he faces Jon Lester and the Red Sox. He was traded at the non-waiver trade deadline in 2009 after spending parts of four seasons in the Sox system (2006-2009).

He is just 3-10 with a 5.55 ERA in 21 starts this season and beat the Red Sox in a complete game two-hitter at Progressive Field on June 9.

Sox Summary: Beckett, longball lead Sox to victory; Tempers take over

Tempers flared at Fenway on Tuesday as both eighth inning pitchers and a coach were ejected. (Elise Amendola/AP)

BOSTON, Massachusetts (Tuesday, August 3, 2010) - Josh Beckett pitched eight innings of three-hit ball before he was ejected in a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday at Fenway Park.

Three players were ejected in a bench-clearing altercation. Beckett hit Shelley Duncan and Shin-Soo Choo causing the Indians to retaliate and throw behind a pair of Red Sox batters, David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre. After Beltre was thrown at in the eighth, both benches were emptied, but no punches were thrown.

In the second inning, Mike Lowell returned for the first time since June 22 and deposited the first pitch he saw into the Green Monster Seats for a two-run home run (3). Each of his last two Major League hits have been home runs (also June 11 vs. Philadelphia).

Rookie catcher Lou Marson, who was called up from Triple-A Columbus for the injured Carlos Santana, cut the deficit to 2-1 with a solo blast to left field (2) in the third. which was also a first-pitch smack. His last three Major League RBI have come against the Red Sox, including a 2-run single in his last Big League game, June 10 against Boston. Of his last three hits overall, two have been home runs, his only two long balls on the season.

Bill Hall added a solo blast to left field (12) of his own to give the Sox a 3-1 lead in the fourth.

Beckett improved to 3-1 with the win in which he allowed just just three hits and a run, while fanning eight. Jonathan Papelbon recorded his 25th save of the season, becoming the first pitcher in Major League history to earn at least 25 saves in each of his first five full seasons.

David Huff allowed seven hits and three runs over 5.1 innings to fall to 2-10 this season.

Tuesday’s win evened the series at one game a piece. Jon Lester takes the hill opposite old friend Justin Masterson on Wednesday night in game three of the series at Fenway Park.

NOTES

* Jacoby Ellsbury will be activated and is set to return to the team tomorrow. He finished his rehab for Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday afternoon in a 5-4 win over Durham (TB) at McCoy Stadium.

Red Sox Today: August 3 vs. Indians

7:10 p.m., NESN/WEEI

RED SOX (60-46)
16 Marco Scutaro SS
54 Darnell McDonald CF
41 Victor Martinez C
34 David Ortiz DH
29 Adrian Beltre 3B
25 Mike Lowell 1B
12 Jed Lowrie 2B
22 Bill Hall LF
55 Ryan Kalish RF

19 Josh Beckett RHP

INDIANS (45-61)
4 Trevor Crowe CF
13 Asbrubal Cabrera SS
17 Shin-Soo Choo RF
47 Shelley Duncan LF
35 Jordan Brown DH
8 Matt LaPorta 1B
1 Luis Valbuena 2B
12 Jayson Nix 3B
30 Lou Marson C

28 David Huff LHP

* The Red Sox could not put together a third walk-off win in the series opener, 6-5 against the Indians on Monday. Despite the loss, the Sox are still winners in five of their last seven games, while Cleveland has won three in a row. The Indians have also won three in a row against the Red Sox in 2010, dating back to June 8.

Rehab Update: Jacoby Ellsbury, who has been on the 15-day DL since May 28 with fractured ribs, continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket today. He led off as the club’s DH and went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and run in a 5-4 walk0ff win over Durham (TB).

Lowell activated, Youk to DL: The Boston Red Sox today placed first baseman Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list due to a right thumb adductor muscle tear and activated third baseman Mike Lowell from the 15-day DL.  Lowell will be active for tonight’s game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. Youkilis is batting .307 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI in 102 games for the Red Sox this season and is tied for third in the Major Leagues with 77 runs scored. He leads all Major Leaguers this season with .798 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers. Lowell has been on the disabled list since June 24 with a strained right hip.  He appeared in 5 rehabilitation games with Triple-A Pawtucket and hit .500 (11-for-22) with four doubles, four home runs, five runs and 10 RBI, playing first base, third base and designated hitter.

Road Warriors: Following the current series, the Sox will embark on another 10-day, 10-game trip to New York (August 6-9), Toronto (August 10-12) and Texas (August 13-15). Boston went 6-4 on its recent 10-game trip to Oakland (1-2), Seattle (2-2) and Los Angeles (3-0). Of Boston’s 27 games from July 19-August 15, only seven tilts will be played at home, all during the current homestand. The club is 8-6 thus far during that stretch. The Sox have just one off day (August 16) in a 27-day span from July 30 through August 25.

Sox Summary: Not enough for third walk-off

Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana rolls after Ryan Kalish collided with him while trying to score on a single by Daniel Nava in the seventh inning. Santana, who blocked home with his left leg, had to be carted off the field with his left leg in an air cast after the collision. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Adrian Beltre drove in all of the Red Sox’ runs on the power of two home runs over the Green Monster, but the Red Sox fell to the Cleveland Indians, 6-5, on Monday at Fenway Park in the opener of four. Despite the loss, the Sox are still winners in five of their last seven games, while Cleveland has won three in a row.

A sacrifice fly in the second inning by Beltre gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead, but a double to center field by Shelley Duncan in the top of the fourth gave the Indians the lead.

In the fifth, Shin-Soo Choo grounded into an RBI double play giving Cleveland a 3-1 lead. Trevor Crowe walked in the sixth with the bases loaded, while Choo hit a two-run single to right.

Beltre then connected for two home runs over the Green Monster in the seventh and eighth innings (18), cutting the deficit to 6-5. Chris Perez came in for the ninth and allowed just a hit for his 13th save.

Fausto Carmona was the winning pitcher as he allowed eight hits and two runs over seven innings to improve to 11-8.

John Lackey struggled over 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs, and five walks to fall to 10-6.

NOTES

* Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana looked to have suffered a horrible injury in that collision with Ryan Kalish in the seventh inning. “He tested well with the trainers,” manager Manny Acta said. “They feel he doesn’t have any serious damage with his ACL or MCL. He’s leaving tomorrow for Cleveland to get an MRI.”

* Kevin Youkilis jammed his thumb in the first inning and had swelling. The initial exam on his right thumb was negative, but he will have an MRI Tuesday morning.

* Jacoby Ellsbury said he has no idea when he will be able to rejoin the Red Sox. “I’ll be feeling something for the rest of the year,” he said. He did not have further comment, saying that he didn’t like talking about his situation after games. He will play for Pawtucket on Tuesday and then be re-evaluated. Manager Terry Francona said before the game that he still isn’t ready to play after fracturing his ribs April 11.

Sox Summary: Masterson stymies ex-teammates to take game three

Sorry for the lack of full updates this week…Starting this weekend, will try to get everything back in order for the summer. Thanks!

Justin Masterson was brilliant in a complete game effort. (Tony Dejak/AP)

The Red Sox were stymied by old friend Justin Masterson on Wednesday night as he lead the Indians to an 11-0 win over his old ‘mates at Progressive Field. Boston won the first two games of the series on Tuesday and Wednesday and can still win the series with a victory on Thursday night.

He allowed two hits and two walks, while striking out six in a complete game win, his second victory this season. Clay Buchholz was the tough-luck loser as he allowed three hits and three runs over seven innings to fall to 8-4.

The series finale is Thursday night at Progressive Field as Jon Lester faces Matt Talbot.

Sox Summary: Wake makes history in game two win in Cleveland

Tim Wakefield set a new Red Sox career record for innings pitched at 2,777. (Tony Dejak/AP)

Tim Wakefield wrote himself into the Red Sox history books as he became the club’s all-time leader of innings pitched in a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday at Progressive Field. He passed Roger Clemens for most all-time with 2,777. He allowed four hits and two runs over 7.1 innings for the win.

In the first, Jhonny Peralta reached on a fielding error by third baseman Adrian Beltre and scored the first run of the game.

The Red Sox scored three runs in the fourth inning on doubles to left field by Kevin Youkilis and Bill Hall and a line drive single to center field by David Ortiz, making it 3-1.

In the seventh, Shelley Duncan made it 3-2 with a solo home run to left (1), but that is all they could get.

Wakefield improved to 2-4 on the season, while David Huff allowed eight hits and three unearned runs over six innings to fall to 2-7. Daniel Bard notched his second save of the season, with a scoreless ninth.

The Red Sox can win the four-game series on Wednesday night at Cleveland as Clay Buchholz faces old friend Justin Masterson.

Red Sox Game Notes: Sox send Wake to the hill in search of second in a row at Cleveland

We are sorry for the lack of notes this week, but we hope to have full notes tomorrow. We won’t have an update on Thursday as we will be headed to Fraser Field for the Navigators home opener.

RED SOX
Scutaro SS
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis 1B
Ortiz DH
Beltre 3B
Hall LF
Cameron CF
McDonald RF

Wakefield RHP

INDIANS
Crowe CF
Choo RF
Kearns LF
Peralta 3B
Branyan 1B
Duncan DH
Valbuena 2B
Marson C
Donald SS

Huff LHP

RED SOX DRAFT PICKS :: DAY 2
Round 2, No. 57: Brandon Workman, RHP, University of Texas
Round 3, No. 110: Sean Coyle, SS, Germantown Academy (Pa.)
Round 4, No. 143: Garin Cecchini, SS, Barbe High School (La.)
Round 5, No. 173: Henry Ramos, RF, Alfonso Casta High School (Puerto Rico)
Round 6, No. 203: Kendrick Perkins, CF, La Porte High School (Texas)
Round 7, No. 223: Chris Hernandez, LHP, University of Miami
Round 8, No. 263: Matthew Price, RHP, Virginia Tech
Round 9, No. 293: Tyler Barnette, RHP, Hickory High School (N.C.)
Round 10, No. 323: Jacob Dahlstrand, RHP, Memorial High School (Texas)
Round 11, No. 353: Lucas LeBlanc, OF, Delgado College
Round 12, No. 383: Garrett Rau, RHP, California Baptist University

For a complete listing of draftees, follow on MLB Draft Tracker.

Sox Summary: Dice-K, Sox bounce back to take game one in Cleveland

Daiuske Matsuzaka won his third game in four starts last night. (AP)

Daisuke Matsuzaka breezed through eight innings, while allowing just four hits and two runs, while walking two as the Red Sox were 4-1 winners over the Cleveland Indians on Monday in the opening game of a four-game series at Progressive Field. The win put the Red Sox back on the winning track, after a Sunday slip-up at Baltimore.

The Sox got to work right out of the shoot in the first as Kevin Youkilis drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 1-0.

David Ortiz grounded into an infield force out in the third inning, which drove in the second run.

Victor Martinez made it 3-0 with another sacrifice fly to center field in the seventh, while Bill Hall close the Red Sox scorebook with an RBI single in the eighth.

All the Indians could muster was a solo home run to center field by Austin Kearns (5) in the bottom of the ninth.

Daisuke Matsuzaka took his fifth win of the season, while Fausto Carmona allowed five hits and two earned runs over six innings and took the loss to fall to 4-5.

The Red Sox play game two in Cleveland on Tuesday night as Tim Wakefield faces lefty David Huff. The game will be broadcast on WRKO, due to the NBA Finals.