soxscloop

4 1/3 innings, 8 runs, 3 HR. That says it all about our Ace.

Beckett was already coming off the worst outing of his postseason career, but it seemed to just be rust from weeks of innactivity. His fastball command had been off, but he looked strong. Last night he was anything but strong. He topped out at 93 mph rather than 96 or 97 and out of 93 pitches he got only 4 swings and misses. FOUR! Regardless of what Beckett says about his health, my conclusion is they are blowing smoke. Josh Beckett is about as healthy as Ortiz and Lowell. The Sox are now in serious jeapardy in the series. Only the heroic effort of Jon Lester and the tight rope act of Dice-K can get them through. Beckett can no longer be relied on and may not see action in the series again at all.

To thier credit, the Sox bats did everything they could to make a W happen. Bay hit a 2-run double in the first and Pedroia launched a ball in the third. Pedroia homered again in the fifth as did Youkilis and Bay. It was the second year in a row that the Sox hit three homers in a losing ALCS game. Youk did it last year too. Bay hit an rbi single in the 6th (Mr. October?) and Pedroia scored on a wild pitch in the 8th, but when Timlin came out in the 11th everyone knew it was over. A sac fly ended it.

Winning one of two on the road is usually considered a victory but given Becketts outing, it seems like a dark shadow. Monday can’t come soon enough. I’m putting my money on Lester.

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