Beckett Looks To Close Out All-Star First Half With Win
BOSTON (CBS) – Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett will close out the first half of his spectacular 2011 season Friday night, against the only American League East team he has not beaten this year.
Beckett has dominated just about everyone this season, holding opponents to a Major League best .178 batting average. His 2.12 ERA is good enough for second in the American League, behind only the Angels Jered Weaver's 1.86.
But his real bread and butter has been against AL east foes. Beckett tossed a complete game shutout in his only start against the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched seven innings of one run ball against the Blue Jays. He is 3-0 against the Yankees with a 0.86 ERA.
The only AL East team he has not beaten yet is the Orioles, who tagged him for four runs in six innings back in April. He gave up seven hits that outing, including two that left Camden Yards.
Now Beckett gets another shot at the team he has posted a 6-3 career record against with a 3.68 ERA.
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This time he gets that chance at home. While Beckett is 2-0 in front of the Fenway faithful, he has not won in front of them since April 16. In six games this season, the Sox right-hander has allowed just five runs in 38.1 innings, striking out 34 batters while walking just two at Fenway.
It has been a great bounce-back year for Beckett so far, who won just six games in an injury-plagued 2010. He will play in his third All-Star game next week in Arizona, and has solidified a Red Sox staff that has been riddled with injuries so far this season.
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Because of Beckett, along with Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield and a healthy dose of offense, the Red Sox sit half a game up on the Yankees heading into the break.
It's time for Beckett to close out the first half on a high note, and keep it going in the second.
