"Josh Beckett could think of no better way to celebrate becoming an All-Star for the third time in his career than by picking up his seventh win of the season. That it came on his home turf only added to yesterday's 2-1 Red Sox victory over the Astros before a Minute Maid Park crowd of 38,035.

"Coming here and winning three, it's tough to sweep a series on the road, or at home for that matter,'' said Beckett (7-3, 2.12 ERA), who helped the Sox cap an interleague sweep of the Astros by throwing eight solid innings, allowing one run on five hits while ringing up a season-high 11 strikeouts.

He has allowed five hits or fewer in his last nine starts, breaking a tie with Roger Clemens for the longest such streak in Red Sox history."