Scutaro, Ortiz back Lester in Bosox win

Jon Lester struck out 11 in seven innings to win his fourth straight decision, Marco Scutaro and David Ortiz each matched a career high with four hits and the visiting Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 14-0, last night.

Lester (15-6) allowed just three hits, all singles, and walked one to improve to 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five starts since losing at Minnesota on Aug. 10. He also matched a season high for strikeouts and is 4-0 in his last six starts against Toronto. "He threw strikes, he threw his cutter with some power to it," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "That was good to see."

Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Josh Reddick homered as the Red Sox matched a season high with 20 hits and scored at least two runs in each of the first five innings. "These nights it's definitely fun to be on our side," Lester said.

Luis Perez (3-3) allowed a career-high eight runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox's Josh Beckett has a sprained right ankle and will miss his next scheduled start. Beckett left in the fourth inning of Monday's start at Toronto after experiencing pain in his ankle on consecutive pitches. He flew back to Boston Tuesday to be examined by a specialist.

Red Sox medical director Dr. Tom Gill said in a statement that Beckett's "examination was consistent with an ankle sprain," adding that an MRI revealed no damage to Beckett's ankle tendons or his Achilles tendon.

He will be re-evaluated later this week.

Francona said Beckett will miss his start Sunday at Tampa Bay. John Lackey will pitch Friday in place of Erik Bedard (left knee), Kyle Weiland will go Saturday and Lester will pitch Sunday. -- AP