BOSTON -- Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox put a pounding on John Lackey and the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday night as the Sox won Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park.

Beckett pitched his second consecutive postseason shutout and led the Sox over the Angels 4-0. After a lead-off hit by Chone Figgins, Orlando Cabrera and Vladimir Guerrero grounded out and Garret Anderson struck out swinging, closing out the top of the first.

Two hitters into the bottom of the inning, Kevin Youkilis homered on a fly ball to left center field. The last time Lackey was on the mound at Fenway was in August, when he gave up six runs in the first inning.

With one out and no one on in the bottom of the third, Youkilis doubled on a line drive to Anderson. Slugger David Ortiz homered on a fly ball to right field, putting the Sox up three to zero.

With Mike Lowell batting, a wild pitch by Lackey gave Manny Ramirez a chance to advance to second. Lowell singled, and Ramirez scored the fourth run.

Fenway Park erupted in cheers when Beckett went to the mound in the top of the ninth. He retired 19 consecutive batters and allowed just four hits.

"You know, they have a lot of guys who foul off pitches often, and I didn't want to get wrapped up in trying to strike a lot of guys out, because those are the at bats that end up killing your pitch count," Beckett said.

"He went out there and executed his pitches, in my opinion, better than he has at any point in the season. He attacked the strike zone with all of his pitches, cut his fast ball times and pounded the strike zone with three great pitches," Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said.

Earlier Wednesday, Red Sox Manager Francona spoke about the starting lineup.

"It wasn't easy to get to a couple of weeks ago. We took our lumps for a while. We remained united and strong together in our vision of what we wanted to attempt to do, and we did it," Francona said. "Now, we can go play, and again, put that lineup out there that we haven't seen for a while."

A few hours before the game, fans packed Yawkey Way. Some said that they were looking forward to seeing Ramirez back in the lineup.

"This year, the boys are ready. We seem to be real healthy now. Manny is back in the lineup. Schilling seems to be healthy, so nothing but positive stuff baby," one fan said. "Always think you are going to win. Never go into a series thinking you are going to lose a game. Go in positive. We are ready. Beckett has been on the big stage before."

Tickets for the playoffs reached astronomical prices. The average price to see one of the playoff games at Fenway is $301, according to ticket seller Stub Hub. The most expensive ticket sold so far was $1,278 for a field box seat, and the cheapest seat sold for $59 to sit in the bleachers.

"It's obviously too much. I hate paying $150 for a ticket," fan Dana Tagliamonte said. "For the playoffs, price is not an object, as far as I am concerned."

The Sox released a number of last-minute tickets late Wednesday. Some fans slept outside the park overnight to scoop up the seats.

"I've been waiting all night. It is my first Red Sox playoff game, so I am pretty excited," said fan Sean Langlois.

Meanwhile, security was tight in and around the ballpark. Officials warned local college students about rowdy behavior.

"Public drinking will not be tolerated," Boston Police Department Superintendent Robert Dunford said. "There will be zero tolerance. There will be additional patrols, especially in the area around Fenway Park, in the area where college students congregate. That is where we are putting a lot of focus. At the liquor stores, we are having meetings with those establishments and with the bar owners."

Police urged fans to celebrate responsibly so that there is a safe environment in the city. In 2004, celebrations turned to riots and college student Victoria Snelgrove was killed by police who were trying to control the crowds.

Her family dedicated a playground in her memory.

"There are mixed emotions. We just pray that what happened to (our daughter) does not happen to anybody else. There is no need for that in this country," Richard Snelgrove said.