But it was a win (the Sox' fifth in a row) and it was a resounding one, as the club equaled its season high for hits (16) and runs, pounding the Yankees, 14-3, before a sellout gathering of 54,688 as hostile to its own (torrential boos poured down upon Randy Johnson when he exited) as to the visitors. The Sox are now 2-0 against New York, having outhit the Yankees, 26-11, and outscored them, 21-6.
''We've got to keep it in perspective," said Mark Loretta, whose two-run single off Johnson in the fourth turned a 3-2 lead into a 5-2 edge. ''It's one game for us. But there was energy throughout. The stadium was electric. It definitely heightens everyone's concentration."
Loretta believed that to be especially true of Beckett, who arrived winless in his last three starts (all Sox losses) but improved to 4-1 with a 4.70 ERA. The subplot was to be the matchup between Beckett and Johnson, the last two pitchers to throw shutouts in the World Series (Johnson with Arizona in 2001 vs. the Yankees, Beckett with Florida in 2003's deciding Game 6 here). But early on neither had stuff anywhere close to what they did on those mystical nights.
Johnson opened the game by walking Kevin Youkilis on nine pitches, and that was pretty much how it would go for him. He walked five on the evening (his highest total since July 2002) and needed 92 pitches to complete 3 2/3 innings.
Beckett began his night fanning Johnny Damon on a 96-mile-per-hour fastball that left Damon grimacing on his way out of the box (he also appeared to mouth the word ''wow"). But Derek Jeter singled and Jason Giambi worked the count full before raking a 96-m.p.h. fastball a row or two deep into the stands in right, for his 11th homer and a 2-0 lead. By the time Hideki Matsui made the third out, Beckett had thrown 30 pitches.
