Laser Show powers Sox past KC

To the surprise of just about nobody who is follows the team with any regularity, that someone was Dustin Pedroia. The second baseman drilled three hits, drove in three runs and stole a base in leading his team to a 4-3 victory over the Royals.

While Pedroia is a force on a fairly regular basis, he seems to push even harder when the occasion calls for it.

"That's why he is who he is -- because he does come through so much," said manager Terry Francona. "He kind of wills himself. There's times when he doesn't, but they're still pretty good at-bats. It's a comforting feeling knowing when he has something to say about the outcome of the game."

In this one, Pedroia occupied the cleanup spot normally filled by Youkilis. For whatever reason, Pedroia has thrived whenever he gets to bat fourth, a slot he is hitting .491 (27-for-55) with seven doubles, five homers and 15 RBIs in 14 career games.

Perfect lineup placement by Francona?

"Or horrible managing the rest of the year," quipped the manager. "We're just trying to balance it out a little bit. We're missing two big bats, so we're just trying to keep a little balance. But you could put him anywhere. He's a good player."

After a slow start to the season, Pedroia has been a force the last couple of months, putting himself in position to vie for his second American League Most Valuable Player Award in four years.

"We're just trying to win games right now," Pedroia said. "We're getting close to the end here and we're all trying to do our jobs. Wherever we hit, we have to try to produce."

With the win, the Red Sox stayed a half-game behind the Yankees in the AL East.

While Pedroia took center stage at the plate, Josh Beckett turned in another strong effort from the mound, and he was finally rewarded with win No. 10 on the season -- his first since July 23.

The righty scattered seven hits and allowed three runs, walking none and striking out four.

"I was really pleased that we won," Beckett said. "That was important."

With the game knotted at 3 in the top of the fifth, Pedroia put the Red Sox in front for good with a two-out single up the middle against Royals starter Luke Hochevar.

"I just try to go out there and play the game hard and help us win," Pedroia said. "That's basically it. That's what everyone is trying to do. Just because a couple of our main guys are out, that doesn't mean we're going to change our approach. It's not like I'm going to try to hit home runs and be a home run hitter. I've got to try and make sure I stay within myself and try to put good at-bats together."

Once Beckett left, the dominant relief duo of Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon closed it down.

Bard gave up a hit and struck out one. Papelbon was perfect in the ninth, striking out two and converting his 29th save in 30 opportunities.

"Pap and Bard, again, with nice clean innings," Francona said. "They did a great job. Again, their lineup is dangerous, and if you make a mistake, they can hurt you. Fortunately, we didn't."

The Royals struck for a quick run against Beckett in the bottom of the first. Alex Gordon led off with a double to right, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Billy Butler.

But that lead didn't hold for long. Josh Reddick got the Sox started in the second with a double. Jason Varitek ripped a two-out single down the line in left, and Reddick raced home, tying the game at 1.

The Boston offense looked much livelier than in the three-game home series against the Rays. Mike Aviles (single) and Jacoby Ellsbury (walk) got a third-inning rally started. With runners on second and third and two outs, Pedroia smashed a two-run single to give the Sox a 3-1 lead.

"He's just a good baseball player, whether he's the muddy chicken or not," Varitek said of Pedroia. "He's just good. I'm glad he's on our team."

But Gordon answered in the bottom of the third, belting a two-run equalizer to the opposite field in left against Beckett.

"I was just trying to battle with two strikes and [Alcides] Escobar on first," Gordon said. "I got back-to-back curveballs. I saw the first curveball pretty good and put a good swing on it, and the second one, I was just trying to drive to left field and it got up in that wind a little bit and carried out. It was good to get at Beckett early like we did."

However, after that, Beckett shut Kansas City down, giving the Red Sox just what they needed.

"Josh did what he's done all year," said Bard. "He battled and gave us seven good innings. Then me and Pap came in and just followed up behind them. That's pretty much how you write it up."