Boston Red Sox defeat Kansas City Royals, 6-0

The first half of the Red Sox season ended the way it began, bristling with justified promise as Josh Beckett ruled the mound at Fenway Park, his blank face betraying his supremacy.

Just when it appeared the Sox might stagger into the break, bats slumping and bodies aching, they beat the Kansas City Royals three straight games, concluding with yesterday’s 6-0 throttling, a victory engineered by Beckett. In dealing a three-hit, no-walk shutout, Beckett shredded the Royal...