Beckett dominates Angels

BOSTON – Josh Beckett is Mr. Zero when October rolls around.

The MVP of the 2003 World Series pitched his second consecutive postseason shutout and, backed by a home run from David Ortiz, led the Boston Red Sox over the Los Angeles Angels 4-0 Wednesday night in their A.L. playoff opener.

Beckett retired 19 consecutive batters after a leadoff single, allowed just four hits and ran his postseason scoreless streak to 18 innings. The last time he pitched on such a stage, he blanked the New York Yankees to clinch the ‘03 World Series for Florida.

The previous pitcher with consecutive postseason shutouts was current teammate Curt Schilling, who accomplished the feat with the Phillies in 1993 and Arizona in 2001. Christy Mathewson is the only pitcher with four postseason shutouts; Beckett tied Whitey Ford and Mordecai Brown with three.

“I was ahead of a lot of guys,” Beckett said. “They’ve got a lot of guys; those guys that foul a lot of pitches off and I just didn’t want to get wrapped up in trying to strike a lot of guys out, because those are the at-bats that end up killing your pitch count and you’re out after 5 1/3 because you’ve got 120 pitches.”

Ortiz, who eliminated the Angels with a 10th-inning, series-ending homer in the first round of the 2004 playoffs, homered off John Lackey. Kevin Youkilis set the tone with a homer in the first inning against the Angels ace.

It was Boston’s seventh straight postseason win over the Angels.

The only 20-game winner in the majors this year, Beckett struck out eight and walked none.

“That guy was very impressive. He’s been like that all year,” Ortiz said.