By Derek_Deis. Published Friday, July 23rd, 2010

SEATTLE (AP) -- Josh Beckett was in command in his return from two months on the disabled list, and Bill Hall homered in the seventh inning to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the squabbling Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Beckett was much like most pitchers against the team with the lowest batting average, fewest runs and fewest hits in the major leagues -- barely threatened.

Throwing fastballs that clocked at 95 mph, Beckett allowed just five hits and one run in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out five in his first start since he felt a strained low back on May 18. His only issue was efficiency. He walked three and threw 98 pitches, 62 for strikes.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)