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Beckett The Man For Sox

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Red Sox starter Josh Beckett throws a pitch in the first inning of ALCS Game 6 against the Rays.

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

Updated: 10/19/2008 01:11 am

ST. PETERSBURG - For better or worse, Josh Beckett is the man for Boston.

Saturday night, Beckett was slightly better and definitely not as worse as his past stints on the mound.

In his 12th career postseason start, Beckett earned the win in the Red Sox's 4-2 victory against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. The Boston right-hander began Game 6 a lot like his last outing - a little shaky. Rays center fielder B.J. Upton homered off the left-field catwalk on a 2-2 count to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Beckett then seemed to calm down until the fifth inning when Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett tied the game at 2 with a home run to left field. After giving up two earned runs off four hits, Beckett was relieved by Hideki Okajima in the sixth inning.

"It was not vintage Josh Beckett, but he also proved who he is," Boston manager Terry Francona said, "but he gave us what we needed. I don't think it's been real easy for him at times, but he pitched with a lot of composure and a lot of guts."

Normally the poster child of postseason perfection, Beckett has struggled this postseason, leading many to speculate why. But his teammates have backed him and that support is driving Beckett now.

As for Saturday's performance, Beckett claimed he merely "executed pitches when I needed to."

There's been plenty of talk about Beckett's execution this postseason. Some have wondered whether the oblique injury he sustained just before the end of the regular season is part of his postseason problem.

However, when the subject of Beckett's injury comes up, the Red Sox clam up. Beckett swears it has had no effect on his subpar postseason.

When asked if he noticed a difference in Beckett in the Rays' Game 3 victory, where the right-hander gave up nine hits and a career-high eight earned runs in 41/3 innings pitched, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said he noticed Beckett's velocity was down, but not much else. Maddon pretty much gave the same assessment after Saturday's game.

"I thought there were more breaking balls tonight than he had the last time out," Maddon said. "He relied on the curveball more. But I thought primarily, velocity was the same as we saw last time, with more breaking balls tonight."

Perhaps Beckett's steadier outing can be attributed to his back-to-basics approach, as well as his ability to repress memories.

Beckett said he doesn't focus on his past postseason success, which includes a 2003 World Series MVP nod.

"I'm just out there trying to win games," he said. "It comes down to executing pitches and not making mistakes during this time of year."

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

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