| 24 September 2009
Josh Beckett allowed 12 hits through 6 innings last night, but managed to hold to the Royals to just two runs. He also fanned 7 batters along the way and earned 16th win of the season. The WHIP took a hit, but Beckett lowered his ERA a few ticks and is starting to look like the ace again after a bumpy August. He's 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA and a .275 BAA in five September starts and he's allowed just three home runs - alot better than the 12 ding dongs that got him in trouble last month.
The other good news is that Victor Martinez did the catching last night. All idications are that Tito will have Victor catch Beckett through the rest of the regular season in an effort to build a repore for the postseason. Jason Varitek has been dismal at the plate and it appears that Tito and the Sox are preparing to have Martinez behind the plate throughout the playoffs - regardless of who is starting.
This may explain all the hits, but it's better to work the kinks out now than in October.
David Ortiz had a 2 for 4 night and hit his 25th tater in the 9th, giving him 4 RBI in the game. But it was the top of the lineup that sparked the 6-run 5th. Ellsbury roped a bases-clearing triple to the gap to score Drew and Gonzo and Pedroia followed with RBI single. Then Bay added two more RBI to give him 115 on the season and Papi added the sixth run with an RBI single.
The bullpen did the rest and the Sox won 9-2 dropping the magic number to 5.
Bottom Line: This wasn't a "must win" game, but after two losses that all but sealed the division for the Yankees, it's good to see the Sox get back on track.
And the Beckett/Martinez combo was a smart move... 'bout time.
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