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Rays Get To Beckett

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Rays DH Cliff Floyd celebrates a solo HR in the bottom of the 4th.

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: October 12, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Josh Beckett is as solid as they come in the postseason. Well, until Saturday night.

In an uncharacteristic outing, the Red Sox starter allowed three home runs and the go-ahead RBI double by Evan Longoria in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 2 of the ALCS. It was the first time in his career Beckett had allowed three homers in a postseason game.

That it came against the Rays was even more stunning.

In his previous three starts against Tampa Bay, Beckett had allowed just one run in each of those games. Overall in his 10 previous starts against the Rays, Beckett was 5-3 with a 3.11 ERA.

Javier Lopez replaced Beckett after Longoria's double. In 41/3 innings, Beckett gave up nine hits and eight earned runs.

Making his fifth ALCS start, Beckett knew it was going to be a struggle. Before the game, he talked about the challenges pitchers face against the Rays.

"I think 1 through 9, as far as situational hitting goes, I think they were probably about as good as they came in the major leagues this year," Beckett said. "Not only against us watching them, but also watching them play other teams. I think just situationally, you've got to make sure that you put yourself into a good situation because they can hit with runners in scoring position."

Before Saturday night, Beckett's record in the ALCS was nearly spotless. He was 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA. He also had won his past five postseason decisions, with his last loss coming in Game 3 of the 2003 World Series with the Marlins.

When he talked about Beckett's postseason dominance Friday, Red Sox manager Terry Francona credited the right-hander's mental stability more than anything else.

"I don't think that the idea of playing in these games of this magnitude are too big for him. I mean, I think he thrives on that and he enjoys it," Francona said. "But I think you have to be a very good pitcher to begin with, or regardless of how you feel mentally. If you don't physically have the stuff to do it, you're probably kind of running upstream a little bit."

Physically, Beckett may have been hindered by an injury. He missed his final start of the regular season with a strained oblique muscle, an injury that was rather noticeable in his start in Game 3 of the Division Series against the Angels. Friday, Beckett brushed off any claims that the injury would be an issue against the Rays.

"I'm going to be the best I can be," Beckett said when asked about his injury.

That wasn't Beckett's best Saturday night. Not even close.

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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