The Best of Beckett
The Red Sox came into this weekend's series with the Yankees at a sorry 0-6. They were able to claim their first victory of the early season Friday afternoon, but lost the battle of the bullpens in the second game Saturday. Standing in the way of the Red Sox first series win of the year was a formidable New York lineup and Yankee's ace CC Sabathia. To counter the Red Sox called on their one time stopper, Josh Beckett.
Beckett started off the year with a less than stellar start against the Cleveland Indians. The main concern was not as much the runs Beckett allowed but the number of pitches and walks he threw, only allowing himself to go 5 innings. Going into the game against the patient Yankees you had to wonder how long Beckett would last and how much damage would be done.
Beckett was able to go on and economize his pitches, going 8 strong innings in one of the better performances of this early season. He hit double digit strikeout numbers by punching out 10 Yankees and allowed only 1 base on balls to the lineup known for taking pitches. The Yankees could only manage 2 hits off of Beckett and both were singles. The Sox scored once off of CC in the 3rd and that was all the support Beckett would need to pick up his first win of the year and double Boston's total victories. More importantly it gave them their first series win of the year, coming against the rival Yanks.
Hopes had sunk low in Boston by the start of Sunday's game. Fans hoped that the Red Sox bats could come alive to support the onslaught likely coming from New York. Beckett had other plans and gave the Red Sox the shot in the arm that they needed early on in the season. We will see if they can carry this momentum forward and get back on the championship track many have projected for them.
Beckett started off the year with a less than stellar start against the Cleveland Indians. The main concern was not as much the runs Beckett allowed but the number of pitches and walks he threw, only allowing himself to go 5 innings. Going into the game against the patient Yankees you had to wonder how long Beckett would last and how much damage would be done.
Beckett was able to go on and economize his pitches, going 8 strong innings in one of the better performances of this early season. He hit double digit strikeout numbers by punching out 10 Yankees and allowed only 1 base on balls to the lineup known for taking pitches. The Yankees could only manage 2 hits off of Beckett and both were singles. The Sox scored once off of CC in the 3rd and that was all the support Beckett would need to pick up his first win of the year and double Boston's total victories. More importantly it gave them their first series win of the year, coming against the rival Yanks.
Beckett lowered his ERA to 2.08 Sunday
Hopes had sunk low in Boston by the start of Sunday's game. Fans hoped that the Red Sox bats could come alive to support the onslaught likely coming from New York. Beckett had other plans and gave the Red Sox the shot in the arm that they needed early on in the season. We will see if they can carry this momentum forward and get back on the championship track many have projected for them.
Pro Sports Wrap
Orble Sport Blog
Food Herald