Maybe the five home run game in Detroit was just Beckett getting the dust off his arm? Â Maybe the boos that rained down on him from some parts of Fenway today inspired him to succeed (something I find doubtful) but whatever did it, Josh Beckett pitched like an ace today and got the first win for a member of the Red Sox starting rotation, bringing the Red Sox to a 2-5 record.
While he pitched a great game, he didn’t look like vintage Beckett. Â He only struck out one batter (Carlos Pena in the 8th inning) and his fastball hovered in the low 90s but what he did was effective. Â In the eight innings he pitched, he threw 94 pitches and gave up five hits, walking one and striking out one. Â Had his teammates not scored eight runs in the 8th inning, he might have come out for a complete game. Â But the extra offense made it possible for Bobby Valentine to bring in Mark Melancon for the night (Melancon gave up a solo home run but ended the game when Stephen Vogt struck out looking.)
Between the offense and the pitching it would have been a perfect game…but nothing ever goes completely smoothly for the Red Sox and in the course of this game Jacoby Ellsbury hurt his shoulder sliding into second base trying to break up a double play. Â Rays shortstop Reid Brignac landed on him and he walked off the field holding his arm closely to his body. Â As of this writing all we know is it is a shoulder injury and they took him to Mass General to be looked at. Â The injuries are starting early for the Red Sox this year.
The pregame ceremony was uncharacteristically low-key for the Red Sox. Â There was a fly-over and the Boston Pops were there but the only other Opening Day “event” was the surprise of Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek taking the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Â The fans greeted them like old friend, of course, and PA announcer Carl Beane let us all know that they will each get their own day of recognition at some point during the season.
Along with Ellsbury’s injury, the only other disappointing moments came during the team introductions when both new manager Bobby Valentine and Josh Beckett got soundly booed but a good portion of the park. Â (There were plenty of cheers as well, but the boos were loud enough to be heard.) Â But, for the most part, Red Sox fans just used the day to enjoy baseball on a beautiful afternoon and they got to leave with a convincing win.
(Originally published on Examiner.com)