Lucky Number Slevin

Notes on a day in baseball:

• The Magnificent Seven. For those Red Sox fans who are even a little aware of Josh Beckett's record in the Skydome, Tuesday's first few pitches must have been grief on a stick. Beckett's first pitch of the game: Boom goes the dynamite! as Alex Rios goes yard. Then a strike to the next batter, Adam Lind, and on 0-1: Double! Hmm. But Beckett got Vernon Wells on a popup (presumably autographed), struck out Frank Thomas and got Troy Glaus on a grounder, and that was it for your Toronto Blue Jays. Beckett went on to become the majors' first seven-game winner as the Red Sox won 9-2. Mike Lowell and Dustin Pedroia each had three-run homers for Boston, and Beckett went seven innings, at one point mowing down 14 straight. The secret? More changeups, we're told. And the tendency not to panic when your first pitch of the game is sent amongst the foreigners. Your Coco Crisp update: He walked and scored ahead of Pedroia's homer. Skydome roof update: Open, sunny.

• Where Is Clayton Moore When You Need Him? According to the Washington Post, it's fun to hate the Yankees again. And much more convenient now that Alex Rodriguez is back hitting homers. Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings and Rodriguez homered in the fifth — his 15th — to lead the Yankees to an 8-2 win over the Rangers. Robinson Cano update: Ended a 1-for-21 slump with two doubles. Oh, and in case you were wondering if they prefer the Yankees or the Red Sox in Ecuador, wonder no more.

• Tokyo Is Next. They've tried guns, tanks and even rockets, but nothing the Nationals do can stop Prince Fielder from wading in from Monster Island and destroying everything. Fielder's three-run homer into Washington's bullpen led a 6-4 win for the rampaging Brewers, who have won five straight.

• Oh Cincinnati Reds Bullpen, What Have You Done Now? Brad Salmon (0-1) gave up a 6-5 lead and David Weathers allowed a run in the ninth as the Astros prevailed over the Reds 7-6. Lance Berkman (Astros) and Ken Griffey Jr. (Reds) homered, for Griffey his 568th. The Reds bullpen has a 4.61 ERA, worst in the NL.

• The Passive-Aggressive Offensive Onslaught Of Jack Wilson. Jack Wilson, 0-for-6 on the day, hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth to tie it and another in the 15th to win it, the Pirates beating the Cubs 4-3.