Boston, MA (Best E Casino) - Jason Giambi knocked in the lone run as the
New York Yankees clipped the
Boston Red Sox, 1-0, in the opener of a three-game set from Fenway Park.
Bobby Abreu collected two hits and scored the run for the Yankees, who have won seven straight games.
Joba Chamberlain (3-3) was stellar on the hill, scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings, with nine strikeouts and one base on balls.
David Ortiz returned to the lineup for the first time since May 31, going 1-for-4 for the Red Sox, whose three-game win streak was halted. Boston's offense might have also suffered since left-fielder Manny Ramirez was a late scratch due to right knee soreness.
Josh Beckett (9-7) took the loss despite limiting the visitors to nine hits and one run over seven innings, fanning six and walking one.
In the third, Beckett sent down the first two batters before allowing consecutive singles to Abreu and Alex Rodriguez which left runners on the corners. Abreu scored when Giambi dribbled a ball just to the left of second base as the Sox shifted their infield to the right.
Beckett denied New York an insurance run in the sixth, stranding Alex Rodriguez at third as he got Melky Cabrera on a soft grounder to first.
In a replay of an incident from last season, Chamberlain threw near Kevin Youkilis' head to lead off the home seventh. The Sox first baseman eventually struck out, part of a 1-2-3 inning for the young right-hander.
Javier Lopez retired Abreu to start the eighth, then Manny Delcarmen fanned Rodriguez but left the game with right arm trouble. Hideki Okajima came on and got Giambi swinging to end the inning.
Jed Lowrie greeted Kyle Farnsworth in the home half with a base hit, and after Jason Varitek popped out, Coco Crisp reached on a bunt right along the foul line which Farnsworth failed to grab.
Rivera got the nod and shut Boston down by fanning Jacoby Ellsbury looking and inducing a weak grounder from Dustin Pedroia.
Okajima followed by retiring the Bombers in order in the ninth, and Youkilis singled with one down in the home half. Mike Lowell was called out on strikes and was ejected arguing the call and Rivera froze J.D. Drew for a called third strike to end the contest.
Beckett allowed three hits through the first two innings, but held New York off the board while finishing each frame with a strikeout.
Chamberlain was the beneficiary of a great stop by Robinson Cano at second base off a Lowrie grounder to start an inning-ending double play in the second.
Game Notes
Each team has won five of 10 meetings this season...During the contest, the Yankees announced the acquisition of outfielder Xavier Nady and pitcher Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Ross Ohlendorf, right-field prospect Jose Tabata, plus right-handed hurler George Kontos and left-hander Phil Coke...Beckett is just 2-3 with one no-decision in his last six starts.