Red Sox' Beckett Needs Just One Run, but Offense Gives Him Four

Red Sox teammates, and every big out recorded by pitcher Josh Beckett. He clearly belongs in Boston, as his passion, especially after scoring in the sixth, spoke volumes. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)" title="Victor Martinez" width="410" height="294" />

The newly acquired Victor Martinez was pumped up, applauding every double play turned, every hit by his Red Sox teammates, and every big out recorded by pitcher Josh Beckett. He clearly belongs in Boston, as his passion, especially after scoring in the sixth, spoke volumes. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett made it look easy. He baffled the Baltimore Orioles with two pitches: a 96 mph fastball and a 12-6 curveball. That was his repertoire and the opposition, as has been the case all season long, couldn’t handle it.

Dustin Pedroia gave him all the offense he would need, socking a solo home-run off the Orioles 24-year old righthander. The Red Sox tried to add some insurance and had multiple chances to do so, especially in the second inning.

Jason Bay, who left later in the game with a tight hamstring, led off the frame with a single, then was promptly erased from the basepaths on Jason Varitek’s double-play grounder.

Twenty-two year old prospect Josh Reddick, making his second career major league at-bat after a surprising callup from Double-A prior to Friday’s game, kept the inning alive with his first hit, a double crushed to deep center-field.

Jed Lowrie and Jacoby Ellsbury proceeded to work two-out walks, but their efforts were all for naught when Pedroia grounded out to end the threat.

Boston’s offense was quiet over the ensuing three frames but, thanks to Beckett, it didn’t matter. Throughout the season, Beckett has allowed the leadoff hitter to reach countless times.

Yet, he has the tendency to get stronger as the inning progresingle to Orioles 23-year old catcher Matt Wieters to begin the third inning, then needed only ten pitches to record three outs.

He had a similar fourth inning. He walked Nick Markakis then retired the heart of Baltimore’s order, laboring by his standards, needing 13 pitches to send down Aubrey Huff, Nolan Reimold, and Luke Scott.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, after Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis homered for the second straight game in the top, Beckett found himself in more trouble, if it can be considered as such.

This time, he retired the first two hitters before allowing a triple to Cesar Izturis. Baltimore’s first run of the game was 90 feet away, but Izturis would stay there, as Brian Roberts quietly grounded out.

In the top of the sixth inning, Boston’s offense gave Beckett some more support, dwindling Baltimore’s chances.

Ellsbury singled, reaching for the third time in the game to continue his impressive year at the plate, moved over to second on Pedroia’s sacrifice bunt, then stole third, his 48th theft. His speed, as it usually does, led to a run.

Victor Martinez, making his Red Sox debut, collected his first hit with the team, lining a single to left to score Ellsbury. He scored once Rocco Baldelli, pinch-hitting for Bay, crushed the first pitch he saw from Chris Ray down the right-field line.

Beckett now had four runs with which to work. The Orioles didn’t stand a chance. Jones and Markakis started off the bottom the sixth with singles.

Beckett, given his success with runners on, had Baltimore right where he wanted them. On cue, he got Huff to fly out then Reimold to ground into an inning-ending double play. Once again, Beckett was unflappable.

He was in the seventh as well, after Reddick continued his memorable night with a double in the top of the inning.

For the second time in a row, Beckett allowed the first two batters to reach. It was as if he wanted to make the Orioles think they could rally, because, once again, they couldn’t take advantage as Beckett knuckled down.

Wieters grounded into a double play and three pitches later, Izturis lined out. Beckett’s magnificent outing was over.

This should have been a blessing for Baltimore, but unfortunately for them the eighth inning was eerily similar to the sixth and seventh. Hideki Okajima did his best Josh Beckett impersonation, relinquishing consecutive singles to Roberts and Jones to begin the inning.

Surely the Orioles would break through at least once in these situations, right? Wrong. Markakis struck out, then, summing up Baltimore’s night, Huff lined out to Pedroia, who fired to Martinez to double Jones off first.

Daniel Bard, the hard-throwing reliever the Red Sox were reluctant to trade, even for Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, proved why. Ninety-eight miles-per-hour flowed out of his arm so smoothly, then was offset by a nasty curveball.

Sound familiar? Beckett 2.0 struck out two of the three batters he faced, mowing down Scott and Mora rather easily. It was that kind of night for Boston pitching–easy.

What more could the Red Sox have asked for? They get offense early and pours it on late, Beckett cruises, Reddick, who looks like he’s about 15, possesses patience and a good eye at the plate and collects first two hits of what should be an illustrious career, Martinez collects his first RBI in his debut in Boston, and Okajima and Bard close the door on a eight-hit shutout.

Clearly, Boston’s dominant performance could not have been improved upon.