BOSTON — Pitcher Josh Beckett— the no-nonsense Texan with the quiet confidence — owns October, and he showed the Colorado Rockies why Wednesday.
Beckett struck out nine batters — including four of the first six — in getting the Boston Red Sox started on a 13-1 win in Game 1 of the World Series at rainy Fenway Park.
And, here's why this postseason belongs to Beckett: He's 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA this month with 35 strikeouts and two walks in 33 innings. He was the 2003 World Series MVP for the Florida Marlins and he was the ALCS MVP against the Cleveland Indians.
What makes Beckett so tough? He throws a high-90s fastball with a devastating curveball and a hard-to-detect changeup, although he didn't use his changeup Wednesday until the seventh inning.
"We're not done, he's not done," manager Terry Francona said. "He's been huge for us. When you win, you need guys like that."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: MLB | World Series | Boston Red Sox | Rockies | Fenway Park | Colorado Rockies | Josh Beckett
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle had all kinds of praise for Beckett, saying that his fastball shows "good, late life," locates to both sides of the plate, gets ahead and then spins the ball well with good rhythm and pace.
It's not surprising Beckett was as advertised, Hurdle said: "We saw a good Beckett."
Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek said the fact that Beckett has such "powerful stuff" this late in the season is a testament to how hard he works. He's pitched that way the whole season, Varitek said: "That's why he's our ace."
Beckett threw 93 pitches in seven innings. Francona said it would have been too risky to take him out after the fifth or sixth inning after the Red Sox broke it open: "Sometimes, you can get in the way."
Beckett struck out the first four batters he faced.
The four consecutive strikeouts at the beginning of a World Series game was one short of the record held by the Los Angeles Dodgers' Sandy Koufax (1963) and the St. Louis Cardinals' Mort Cooper (1943).
Beckett struck out the Rockies' Willy Taveras, Kaz Matsui and Matt Holliday in the first inning, each on a 97-mph fastball. Then, Beckett started the second inning by getting Todd Helton to start the second inning. Garrett Atkins' double off the Monster ended the streak, but then Brad Hawpe went down on strikes.
As usual, Beckett spoke softly after the game. About the strikeouts at the beginning of the game, he said he was just "trying to get outs." He said that when the Red Sox are at home, it's important to get the offense to the plate.
"They were anxious, ready to go," Beckett said.
Beckett said that he was taking the game, "pitch-by-pitch," and it's important, "not to get ahead of yourself."
The last time Beckett pitched against the Rockies, he didn't do so well. Colorado beat the Red Sox 7-1 at Fenway Park in a June 13 interleague game.
Beckett entered the game at 9-0, but the Rockies were able to get him for six runs in five innings.
Beckett said he watched tape of that game once. "I just go with my strengths," he said.
As usual, that was more than good enough Wednesday.
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Beckett struck out nine batters — including four of the first six — in getting the Boston Red Sox started on a 13-1 win in Game 1 of the World Series at rainy Fenway Park.
And, here's why this postseason belongs to Beckett: He's 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA this month with 35 strikeouts and two walks in 33 innings. He was the 2003 World Series MVP for the Florida Marlins and he was the ALCS MVP against the Cleveland Indians.
What makes Beckett so tough? He throws a high-90s fastball with a devastating curveball and a hard-to-detect changeup, although he didn't use his changeup Wednesday until the seventh inning.
"We're not done, he's not done," manager Terry Francona said. "He's been huge for us. When you win, you need guys like that."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: MLB | World Series | Boston Red Sox | Rockies | Fenway Park | Colorado Rockies | Josh Beckett
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle had all kinds of praise for Beckett, saying that his fastball shows "good, late life," locates to both sides of the plate, gets ahead and then spins the ball well with good rhythm and pace.
It's not surprising Beckett was as advertised, Hurdle said: "We saw a good Beckett."
Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek said the fact that Beckett has such "powerful stuff" this late in the season is a testament to how hard he works. He's pitched that way the whole season, Varitek said: "That's why he's our ace."
Beckett threw 93 pitches in seven innings. Francona said it would have been too risky to take him out after the fifth or sixth inning after the Red Sox broke it open: "Sometimes, you can get in the way."
Beckett struck out the first four batters he faced.
The four consecutive strikeouts at the beginning of a World Series game was one short of the record held by the Los Angeles Dodgers' Sandy Koufax (1963) and the St. Louis Cardinals' Mort Cooper (1943).
Beckett struck out the Rockies' Willy Taveras, Kaz Matsui and Matt Holliday in the first inning, each on a 97-mph fastball. Then, Beckett started the second inning by getting Todd Helton to start the second inning. Garrett Atkins' double off the Monster ended the streak, but then Brad Hawpe went down on strikes.
As usual, Beckett spoke softly after the game. About the strikeouts at the beginning of the game, he said he was just "trying to get outs." He said that when the Red Sox are at home, it's important to get the offense to the plate.
"They were anxious, ready to go," Beckett said.
Beckett said that he was taking the game, "pitch-by-pitch," and it's important, "not to get ahead of yourself."
The last time Beckett pitched against the Rockies, he didn't do so well. Colorado beat the Red Sox 7-1 at Fenway Park in a June 13 interleague game.
Beckett entered the game at 9-0, but the Rockies were able to get him for six runs in five innings.
Beckett said he watched tape of that game once. "I just go with my strengths," he said.
As usual, that was more than good enough Wednesday.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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