DETROIT -- Josh Beckett comes from the old school of baseball, and its unwritten rule book says that if a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter deep into a game, the batter better not try to bunt and break it up.

That code also says that if a batter tries that, like Gerald Laird did to Beckett in the sixth inning Wednesday night, he might pay for it later. And Beckett reminded him of just that, drilling Laird on a 2-and-2 pitch in his next at-bat, after the no-hitter was over.

Beckett, of course, blew off the moment, saying "It wasn't that big of a deal," but sending that message is consistent with the way Beckett plays the game, and it is part of the reason why he was so successful on this night. Unlike many modern pitchers, Beckett has no qualms about throwing inside, and, Wednesday night, he pitched outside and in with great success.

He located his fastball on both corners, helping him to pile up nine strikeouts. His curveball was biting, he was throwing his fastball for first pitch strikes, and Tigers hitters seemed unable to make solid contact against the Boston stopper, who scowled down at Detroit batters all game and tormented them with his precise fastball.

"I was locating it well. I think I threw enough strikes with my curveball early to establish it, and [catcher Jason Varitek] did a great job [calling the game]. We were really in sync tonight," he said.

After six innings, it seemed like he might have a chance at something truly special: a no-hitter, another figurative trophy for the mantle of a pitcher who already has two World Series trophies and a 20-win season under his belt at age 29.

"Once we got past the sixth, I was like -- nine more outs. We were kind of counting them down," third baseman Mike Lowell said.

The seventh started off well enough, with Placido Polanco flying out to left. But Magglio Ordonez worked a crucial walk against Beckett, coming back from a 1-and-2 count to reach first base.

The next batter, Miguel Cabrera, jacked a hard fly ball that carried to the warning track in right centerfield, but Jacoby Ellsbury tracked it down on the run, to a mixture of cheers and 'oohs' from the Comerica Park crowd.

It seemed Beckett might have gotten one of 'those plays' that seem to come with every no hitter -- but any good karma was short lived.

Curtis Granderson came to the plate, a man who makes his living slashing doubles and hard singles. On a 2-1 sinking fastball, Granderson laced a single past a leaping Dustin Pedroia to end the no hitter.

"It wasn't a very good pitch," Beckett shrugged.

Beckett took a moment to compose himself, talked to Varitek, and recorded the third out of the inning.

Boston pitchers have thrown four no-hitters since 2001, all caught by Jason Varitek. Hideo Nomo, Derek Lowe, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester have all turned in clean sheets. Buchholz threw his in 2007, Lester in 2008.

Varitek said after Lester's no hitter that he didn't even realize history was in the offing until the eighth inning. He realized early on what was happening Wednesday night.

"Umm . . . yeah, I did," Varitek laughed. "I can say I did."

This is the second time a Boston pitcher has come close this year. Tim Wakefield got through 7 1/3 no-hit innings against Oakland earlier this season, and despite losing the no-no, got a much-needed road win for Boston.

dbarbari@projo.com