BOSTON - Josh Beckett had to play traffic cop on the first batter of last night's game.

Eric Byrnes lofted a popup maybe 15 feet down the third-base line, just in foul territory.

Catcher Jason Varitek took off his mask, found the ball, faced it with his back to the infield and threw away his mask, settling under the ball to make the catch.

Mike Lowell, meanwhile, was racing down the line, also tracking the ball.

Beckett was watching the play from a few feet away. It’s his job to call out who should make the catch. At almost the last instant Beckett yelled out, “Mikey, Mikey.” Varitek moved aside and Lowell made the catch.

There was a virtual instant replay in the bottom of the first when Red Sox leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury popped one up to the left of home play. This one was closer to the stands, and it was chased by catcher Chris Snyder.

Third baseman Mark Reynolds came running from his spot at third base.

Pitcher Dan Haren wasn’t as close to the ball as Beckett, and he wasn’t as good as Beckett at directing traffic. Reynolds, though, yelled several times that he had it, so Snyder moved away and Reynolds made the catch.