Frank Thomas Hits 11th Career Grand Slam As Blue Jays Complete Sweep With 7-4 Win Over Red Sox
Associated Press | Apr 6, 08 3:28 PM CDT in
Sports
Josh Beckett's first start of the season failed to send Boston home with a win.
Frank Thomas hit his 11th career grand slam, Vernon Wells added a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 7-4 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the World Series champions.
Boston went 3-4 on its opening three-nation trip, a journey of nearly 16,000 miles. The Red Sox split two games against the Athletics in Tokyo and swept two in Oakland before arriving in Canada. They open the home portion of their schedule Tuesday at Fenway Park against the struggling Detroit Tigers.
Out since mid-March because of a strained lower back, Beckett was activated from the disabled list to face Roy Halladay (1-1). Beckett gave up five run, three hits and four walks in 4 2-3 innings, striking out six. He reached 96 mph and threw 59 of 92 pitches for strikes.
With the score 2-all in the fifth, Aaron Hill singled with two outs and Beckett walked Alex Rios and Wells. Manny Delcarmen relieved and sent Delcarmen's first pitch into the left-field stands for his second homer of the season and second in as many days.
The crowd of 30,114 called Thomas out of the dugout for a curtain call after his slam, the 515th homer of his career. Thomas also had a a two-run double off Delcarmen in Toronto's 6-3 victory Friday. He went 4-for-12 with eight RBIs in the series.
Halladay gave up four runs and eight hits in eight innings, struck out six and walked one. Jeremy Accardo pitched the ninth for his third save in as many chances.
J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek each had solo homers off Halladay, while David Ortiz had an RBI single in the eighth.
Toronto, outhit 10-5 in the game, managed to hold Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in check for a third straight day. The pair finished 3-for-22 with two RBIs in the series.
Notes:@ Ellsbury is 4-for-6 with two career homers against Halladay. ... Boston made four errors, three by shortstop Julio Lugo. ... Boston RHP Kyle Snyder was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Beckett. ... Toronto Raptors guard Jose Calderon threw out the first pitch.
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