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

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 five hits and one run in 52/3 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.