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Irked Beckett Says He Isn't Hurt
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Published: October 13, 2008
BOSTON - A day after suffering through easily the worst outing of his extraordinary postseason career, a testy (more than usual) Josh Beckett insisted Sunday he isn't injured.
Beckett gave up eight runs in 41/3 innings in the Red Sox's 11-inning, 9-8 loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Coming into this postseason, Beckett was considered one of the finest playoff pitchers in history, with a 6-2 record and 1.73 ERA. He had a mediocre non-decision in the division series against the Angels before giving up nine hits and three home runs Saturday.
Sunday at Fenway Park, Beckett was asked if he could understand why his health is being questioned.
"I can understand, but if I tell you I'm fine, that's what you have to go on," he said. "Unless you guys are getting your information from somewhere else, I don't know what to tell you."
Beckett strained his right oblique muscle during a bullpen session during the last weekend of the regular season, and the Red Sox pushed back his start in the division series. Sunday, a blog item on The Boston Globe's Web site said Beckett received an injection for pain and inflammation before his division series outing.
Earlier this year, the 28-year-old had back trouble in spring training and nerve irritation in his right elbow and fingers during August.
Manager Terry Francona, who has Beckett lined up to pitch a potential Game 6, said his former ace is "battling some consistency issues, and I think some of that is having some of your starts interrupted and then having the oblique a couple of weeks ago."
Beckett responded with a string of expletives when a reporter asked him to assess his performance in Game 2.
LINEUP TWEAKS: With RHP Matt Garza coming up, Francona said left-handed hitting Alex Cora could make his first start of the series at shortstop for Jed Lowrie, and J.D. Drew will return to right field.
RED-EYE TRAVEL: Unlike the Rays, the Red Sox flew to Boston after the 5-hour, 27-minute Game 2. The team arrived at around 7 a.m., and the turnout was good for an optional afternoon workout.
"I think it's fortunate for both teams nobody's playing today," C Jason Varitek said.
BIG STICKS: Despite scoring only two runs in their 2-0 Game 1 victory and being held to one run in the final five innings Saturday, the Sox are getting great production from some of their big hitters.
Kevin Youkilis is hitting .600, and Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay and Coco Crisp are hitting .500. Pedroia has scored five runs and hit two home runs, and Bay, who is playing in the postseason for the first time, has hit one homer and driven in four runs.
Conversely, leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury is 0-for-11 with three strikeouts. David Ortiz doesn't have a hit, but he has walked four times and scored a run.
Tony Fabrizio
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