HOUSTON -- On a day in which the Red Sox stranded 12 baserunners and were just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, it was perhaps fitting that they would push across the winning run without so much as swinging the bat.
Kevin Youkilis worked a based-loaded walk in the top of the ninth, forcing home Drew Sutton with what proved to be the difference in a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros.
The Astros had intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez to pitch to Youkilis, who foiled the strategy by drawing a five-pitch walk from reliever Mark Melancon.
The win gave the Sox a sweep of their weekend series here, a four-game winning streak and left them with an interleague record of 10-8.
Josh Beckett, named earlier Sunday as an American League All-Star, picked up his seventh win, allowing just one on five hits over eight innings while fanning a season high 11 hitters.
Jonathan Papelbon locked down the ninth inning for his 17th save in 18 tries.
The Sox scored their first run in the fourth on a fielder's choicethrowing error by first baseman Brett Wallace.
Boston Red Sox
Houston's only run came in the when pinch-hitter Angel Sanchez singled home Wallace (leadoff double) from second base.