Boston Red Sox: Josh Beckett Start Overshadowed by Jacoby Ellsbury Injury

Two very important things happened at Fenway Park today for the Boston Red Sox home opener against the AL East rival Tampa Bay Rays.

One, Jacoby Ellsbury injured his shoulder after Rays shortstop Reid Brignac fell on it and a timetable for his return still hasn't been determined. Two, Josh Beckett had a dominant start against a tough Rays team.

I'm not stating that Ellsbury's injury isn't a serious injury because it definitely is. What I am saying is that Beckett had a great start, and for him to be solid as the No. 2 pitcher in a very unstable rotation is a good sign for the future.

If you remember, Josh Beckett was absolutely terrible in his first start of 2012 against the Detroit Tigers just a week ago. He couldn't make it out of the fifth inning after allowing seven runs on seven hits, five being home runs. He had poor location and the Tigers were teeing off on his pitches, especially Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, who each hit two out of Comerica Park. 

Today, he was much improved. He didn't have as high of a velocity as we may have liked to see, but he did have pin-point location. Beckett cruised through eight innings allowing just one run on five hits. He didn't get his first strikeout until the eighth inning, but did get eight outs on the ground and 14 through the air. Another thing to keep in mind is that he did all of this while throwing under 100 pitches. 

Sure, Boston is going to need Jacoby Ellsbury back as quickly as possible, but if Beckett can't get guys out, the Red Sox aren't going to win every fifth day anyways. Jon Lester along with Beckett are the two leaders of the starting rotation and need to be the aces that we know they're capable of being.

With the unproven trio of Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard all pitching behind them, Boston is going to need as many quality starts as possible from Lester and Beckett. And today, the Red Sox got one from Josh Beckett.