Beckett Responds, Shuts Out Rays

June 15, 2011

V: Boston Red Sox

Attendance: 19,388

W: Josh Beckett (8-2) 1.86 ERA

Summary:

Jeremy Hellickson and Josh Beckett engaged in one of the best pitching duels of the year so far. Hellickson allowed a single in the first and a walk in the fourth and each time the baserunner was eliminated on a double play. He had faced the minimum through six innings. In the seventh, Jacoby Ellsbury battled him with some long hard foul balls before lining hard to Matt Joyce. I’m not sure if that rattled Hellickson or not, but that’s when his great night fell apart. Dustin Pedroia tripled. Adrian Gonzalez was intentionally walked which brought up Kevin Youkilis who hit a three-run back breaking homer.

It really wouldn’t have mattered if Youkilis had homered or not. A little fly ball would have been just fine as far as Beckett was concerned. The Rays were fortunate that another perfect game wasn’t thrown against them tonight. Their only hit was a squib infield hit by Reid Brignac in the third. He struck out six and walked nobody. He only threw 97 pitches. A truly dominant performance.

Hopefully David Price will continue to the complete shutout string tomorrow.

Player of the Game: Josh Beckett