Five days ago, Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was booed off the mound after a dismal performance against the Cleveland Indians in which he gave up seven runs over two and a third innings en route to an 8-3 loss.

Red Sox Nation not only was miffed with Beckett’s performance but teed off after it was revealed Beckett played a round of golf despite missing his previously scheduled start against the Baltimore Orioles.

But today all is forgiven – for now. On his 32nd birthday, Beckett pitched seven shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners striking out nine batters. The Red Sox 5-0 victory over the M’s is their fifth in a row. They have not lost since Beckett’s debacle last Thursday.

Have the Red Sox turned the corner or will they return to their struggles? After starting the season 4-10, the Sox won seven of eight to finish the month with a .500 record at 11-11. But the Sox began May by losing eight of nine games before their current five game winning streak. As of this writing, the Sox are 17-19 and five and a half games back of the Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.

Speaking of the Rays and Orioles, the Red Sox embark on an eight game road trip to St. Pete, Baltimore as well as an interleague series against the Philadelphia Phillies. It will be interesting to see where the Sox stand the next time they play at Fenway.