Hunter, who has made his share of spectacular catches in center, was properly impressed.

“Sweet. I tip my hat to him,” said Hunter, a seven-time Gold Glove winner. “I was in awe. It was pretty impressive. He hit the wall hard.”

Beckett pitched his first complete game of the season, allowing nine hits and four runs. He threw 107 pitches and struck out six.

Jose Arredondo (4-0) earned the victory despite facing only two batters. He walked Dustin Pedroia with two outs and a runner at second in the seventh before throwing a called third strike past J.D. Drew.

Shields needed 27 pitches to get through the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for his big league-leading 39th save in 42 chances. The Red Sox put two runners on base with one out before Rodriguez retired Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell on popups.

Rodriguez said Ramirez’s game-winning homer against him last October in Game 2 of the AL division series didn’t enter his mind.

“What happened in the past is in the past,” he said. “This is a new season. I don’t think in the past.”

Youkilis hit a two-run homer off Joe Saunders in the second for Boston’s only runs. It was Youkilis’ fourth homer in six games, giving him a career-high 17 this season.

“We’ve been getting on base and having opportunities,” Youkilis said. “We’ve just got to seize those opportunities a little bit more. After the All-Star break, sometimes you get a little bit like this and not everyone’s 100 percent after a couple of days off. But once we get rolling again on all cylinders, we’ll be fine.”

Saunders, a 12-game winner who pitched in the All-Star game, allowed six hits and two runs in 6 2-3 innings.

Notes: Youkilis has 14 RBIs in his last six games. ... Angels RHP Jon Garland (8-6), originally scheduled to pitch Saturday, was pushed back to Sunday because of a stiff neck. He’ll oppose knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (6-6) in the finale of a three-game series. ... Pedroia has hit safely in each of his last 20 road games dating back to May 31, tying him with Nomar Garciaparra for the third-longest such streak for the Red Sox since 1956. Pedroia has at least one hit in 21 of his last 22 games overall. ... Figgins, the Angels’ all-time stolen base leader, stole his 17th base of the season and the 221st of his career in the first. ... Angels starting pitchers lead the majors with 48 victories and 621 1-3 innings pitched. ... Beckett retired 10 straight batters after Figgins singled to open the Angels’ first.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Handicapping the Halladay chase Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay DeMarco: Red Sox should take measured approach CTB: A prediction — Lackey will sign with Yankees   CTB: Indians unlikely to deal Wood this offseason   CTB: Mets could be interested in Royals’ Guilllen Complete list of free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz SCORES, SCHEDULES, STANDINGS, STATS Latest baseball videos Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: