(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Had Tuesday night's 11-10 implosion against the last place Baltimore Orioles happened in July instead of in June, the Boston Red Sox pitching staff would have earned Magna Cum Laude for the month.
After weathering a 71-minute rain delay and building the lead to 10-1, and before being replaced on the field by their Triple A affiliates, the pitching staff closes the month with a big check-minus next to their names.
Aside from last night, however, the Red Sox staff has clearly established itself as the premier staff in the American League. The starting rotation, minus Daisuke Matsuzaka, has been solid and the bullpen, minus last night's aberration, has been lights out.
Should the pitching staff continue to be as solid as it was during the month of June, the rest of the American League East will be looking up at Boston as the summer progresses.
Here are the pitching grades for the month of June:
Josh Beckett: A (Last Month: B)
Beckett has once again established himself as the ace he was in 2007. For the month of June, Beckett was 4-1 with 1.51 ERA. He struck out 35 in 35 innings and averaged seven innings per start. He held batters to a .195 batting average and surrendered only .81 WHIP.
For the season, he is 9-3, while he was 7-5 after June last season. In the Sox championship year of 2007, Beckett was 11-2 after June on his way to a 20-7 campaign.
Tim Wakefield: A- (Last Month: A-)
What more can you say about Wakefield, who won his 10th game of the year in June, matching his total of last year? The scary thing is that he can lose it as quickly as he gained it. Knock on wood, Wakefield may make his first All-Star game in his 17th season. His last start tied him with Roger Clemens for most games started in franchise history.
Wakefield cruised through June at 4-0 with 3.45 ERA, his game of the month being a 1-0 six inning, three-hit gem against the Atlanta Braves. As long as his back holds up and he doesn't lose the magic of the knuckler, Wakefield will clearly be the best No. 4 starter in baseball.
Justin Masterson: B (Last Month: C+)
I took some heat last month for a low grade and perhaps it was justified. Masterson was solid minus his five-run implosion on June 30.
His end of the month numbers are 0-0 with 4.38 ERA, however, on days 1-29 his ERA was hovering at 2.00. Unfortunately, in this game we have to count the 30th, as well.
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