BOSTON — Talking before Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday, Boston icon Carl Yastrzemski paid Josh Beckett the ultimate compliment, comparing him to Jim Lonborg, the near-sainted pitcher who led the Red Sox to the 1967 pennant.
“Every time he steps on the mound, you’re gonna win,” Yastrzemski, a member of the Hall of Fame, said. “It was the same with Lonborg in ’67. You weren’t going to go on any prolonged losing streaks.
“When Lonborg was pitching, you almost knew you were going to win before the game started.”
If there has been a sure thing in the 2007 playoffs, it has been a Red Sox victory when Beckett takes the mound. Even without the 13 runs Boston scored on his behalf at Fenway Park, given Beckett’s track record this postseason, the Rockies were going to be in trouble even if they’d limited their opponents to a mere safety, instead of nearly giving up two touchdowns.
Striking out the first four hitters he faced, Beckett allowed just one run on six hits in seven innings, improving to 4-0 this postseason with a 1.29 ERA. In 30 innings pitched, the right-hander has allowed just four runs on 19 hits. He has struck out 35 batters and walked just two.
“I hope my teammates are happy, that’s who I’m really there to please,” Beckett said when asked how he felt about his dominant performances. “I feel like I need to really do my part, carry my load, so if my teammates feel like I’m doing that, then I’m happy.”
At this point, Beckett and the sluggers supporting him are enjoying a symbiotic relationship. Confident Beckett’s pitching will keep them in the game, the Red Sox hitters, in turn, don’t have to press at the plate, which has made them free to punish the opposition.
“Right now he’s setting his mark and living up to all the expectations that were put on him when he was younger,” Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis said. “You feel pretty confident when he’s pitching. He’s a guy you want out there in a big game.”
Beckett’s efforts this postseason are only adding to what is fast becoming a glittering résumé. The only 20-game winner in the majors this season, Beckett was also a star in the 2003 postseason.
Facing down fellow Texan Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the 2003 Series – at Yankee Stadium, no less – Beckett threw a complete-game, five-hit 2-0 gem to clinch the championship for the Florida Marlins. Earlier, with his team facing elimination against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, Beckett was on the mound for a 4-0 complete-game win.
That was the first of his three playoff shutouts. Eventually Beckett went on to win the 2003 Series MVP. At this pace, he may soon have another to his credit.
The only quibble in Beckett’s performance was perhaps its length. With Boston comfortably ahead, and Beckett well under 100 pitches, the Red Sox could have lifted him after the fifth inning. That would have put him in position to possibly start Game 4 in place of the inexperienced Jon Lester and, if necessary, a seventh game.
But manager Terry Francona said a more important consideration was the rain that fell off and on, at times pretty hard, during the game.
“With the weather, sometimes I think you can get in the way of a good game,” Francona said. “If you go to your bullpen early, and the weather opens up like it could have, then suddenly we’re stuck. Something happens tomorrow, we go for the bullpen … better to just stay out of the way.”
And so far, when Beckett takes the mound, that’s all that’s needed.
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
