Beckett Implodes, Red Sox Fall to Angels

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ August 20, 2010 at 4:47am ⋅ Post a comment

Josh Beckett (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Through the first five innings on Thursday night, Josh Beckett was back into form against a pretty good Angels offense. He allowed just two hits and no runs, and appeared on track for the win in a tight ballgame.

Something happened between the fifth and sixth innings. Maybe Beckett checked the calendar to see it’s 2010 and not 2007. Maybe he got worked up talking about the indictment of Roger Clemens. Maybe, just maybe, he’s not that good anymore.

Whatever it is, Beckett blew up in the sixth inning, allowing four runs to LA on an RBI double and a three-run shot to old nemesis Hideki Matsui. The Angels took a 4-1 lead and didn’t look back, winning 7-2 to salvage the season series, which the Red Sox took 9-1.

After that rough fifth inning, Terry Francona let his starter stay in the game, and more of the same occurred on the mound. Beckett only managed to get one out and when it was all said and done, he had allowed six runs in all in 6.1 innings with six strikeouts. Manny Delcarmen was no better, as was charged with a run in the inning without recording an out.

Sox Stud of the Game: David Ortiz

The only offense for the Red Sox came from David Ortiz, who slugged his 27th home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth inning to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

Sox Dud of the Game: Josh Beckett

3-3 record. 6.67 ERA. No, we’re not talking about Tim Wakefield’s numbers when he’s 60…this is the 2010 Josh Beckett. He’s now had three straight starts (against the Yankees, Rangers, and Angels) in which he’s allowed at least six earned runs.