Beckett strong in first start with Bosox

Josh Beckett timed his departure perfectly. Given a lead going into the seventh inning of his Boston debut, Beckett worked through a 1-2-3 frame and got reigning AL batting champion Michael Young on a check swing for a strikeout on his 109th -- and final -- pitch.

Beckett excitedly bounded off the mound, and the Red Sox held on for a 2-1 victory Wednesday night.

"The last pitch I threw to Michael Young, that was about all I had left," Beckett said. "I wanted them to call that a strike so bad."

Beckett gave up a run in the first and needed 81 pitches to get through the first four innings. But after D'Angelo Jimenez led off the fourth with a double, Beckett retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced.

Mike Timlin then worked the eighth, getting defensive help from Manny Ramirez to preserve the lead, and Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.

In other AL games, it was: Cleveland 4, Chicago White Sox 3 in 11 innings; Detroit 14, Kansas City 3; Seattle 6, L.A. Angels 4; Baltimore 16, Tampa Bay 6; Minnesota 13, Toronto 4; and Oakland 9, N.Y. Yankees 4.

Trot Nixon's two-run homer in the seventh gave the Red Sox all the runs they'd need.

Making his first start for the Red Sox not far from his hometown of Spring, Texas, Beckett allowed a run and scattered seven hits. He had five strikeouts and one walk, throwing 75 of his pitches for strikes.

"Once he got the lead, you could see him reaching for a little bit extra," manager Terry Francona said. "He was terrific. ... He enjoys competing and is fun to watch. I'm glad we didn't waste that outing."

The Red Sox got the 25-year-old right-hander, the 2003 World Series MVP and one of Florida's aces, in a trade last November -- after the Marlins turned down an offer from Texas. Beckett became the No. 3 starter behind veterans Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield.

Kameron Loe, the 6-foot-7 right-hander who broke into the Rangers' rotation at the end of last season, was strong until he got into the seventh -- when he allowed Nixon's homer and two more hits after allowing only three hits until that point.

Athletics 9, Yankees 4

Milton Bradley had three RBIs and scored the go-ahead run on Robinson Cano's eighth-inning error to help the Athletics rally from a four-run deficit.

Frank Thomas hit a three-run double later in the eighth for the A's, who took two of three in the Yankees' only visit to Oakland this season.

Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui homered for the Yankees.

Joe Kennedy (1-0) got the last out of the eighth and finished the ninth for Oakland. Jaret Wright (0-1) gave up three hits and four runs in two innings for the Yankees.

Twins 13, Blue Jays 4

Torii Hunter hit a grand slam and tied a career high with six RBIs for the visiting Twins.

Hunter went 4-for-5 and scored three runs. His fifth career grand slam in the eighth against Jason Frasor gave Minnesota a 12-4 lead.

New acquisitions Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay hit back-to-back homers in the first inning for the Blue Jays, who beat Minnesota in the season opener.

Minnesota starter Brad Radke allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings.

Toronto's Josh Towers allowed five runs -- four earned -- and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.

Mariners 6, Angels 4

Mariners starter Jarrod Washburn struck out seven of his former teammates and allowed two runs in seven innings.

Richie Sexson and Raul Ibanez each drove in two runs for Seattle, which won twice in the opening three-game series.

Jeff Weaver, who left the Los Angeles Dodgers to sign an $8,325,000, one-year contract with the Angels, gave up five runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Tim Salmon and Orlando Cabrera homered for visiting Los Angeles.

George Sherrill got three outs for his first save in 52 career appearances.

Orioles 16, Devil Rays 6

Jay Gibbons homered and drove in four runs, and Baltimore used a 16-hit attack to breeze past Tampa Bay.

After opening the season Monday with a 9-6 win over the Devil Rays, Baltimore cranked up the offense another notch against Seth McClung and a parade of relievers.

Melvin Mora and rookie Nick Markakis homered, Ramon Hernandez went 2-for-2 with two walks and three RBIs, and Brian Roberts had two hits and three RBIs.

Erik Bedard allowed three runs, three walks and eight hits in five innings to get the win.

Jorge Cantu homered and Toby Hall had two RBIs for the visiting Devil Rays.

Indians 4, White Sox 3, 11 innings

Jason Michaels doubled in the go-ahead run in the 11th, his fourth hit of the game, and Cleveland took two of three in the opening series between the AL Central rivals.

Casey Blake singled leading off the 11th, moved up on Grady Sizemore's sacrifice and scored when Michaels doubled to right-center against loser Neal Cotts.

Danny Graves got the win with a scoreless 10th and Bob Wickman pitched the 11th for the save.

Tadahito Iguchi went 3-for-4 for the host White Sox.

Tigers 14, Royals 3

Ivan Rodriguez was 5-for-5 with a single, homer, three doubles and five RBIs to lead visiting Detroit.

Rodriguez had an RBI double in a three-run first inning, singled in the third and made it 6-0 in the fifth with a two-run homer off loser Joe Mays. He hit an opposite-field double into the right-field corner in the seventh and doubled over the outstretched glove of Emil Brown in the eighth.

The Tigers got 19 hits and improved to 2-0 under new manager Jim Leyland. Winner Jeremy Bonderman gave up one run and three hits in 6 2-3 innings, striking out eight.