Beckett Lights Out as Sox Make Late Comeback

If anyone was worried about contract talks effecting Josh Beckett’s performance on the field, rest assured it isn’t on his mind. Beckett threw 3 perfect innings with 3K’s on just 34 pitches (24 strikes) against the St. Louis Cardinals this afternoon at City of Palms Park. Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima and Ramon S. Ramirez combined to continue the no-hitter into the 7th inning, when the game began to get wild.

In the 7th inning, Manny Delcarmen struggled mightily, walking 2 and allowing an earned run and a hit in his 1 inning. When Dustin Richardson entered the game in the 8th inning, the Red Sox were on top 2-1, but both teams still had a ton of scoring to do. The Cards picked up 2 in the top of the 8th, taking the lead 3-2, but their lead didn’t last long. Jose Iglesias, one of the most impressive young players in the Sox system, ripped a 3-run HR to put the Sox back on top by 2 entering the 9th inning.

After Red Sox pitching blew the lead once again, allowing 3 runs in the top of the 9th, the Red Sox needed a comeback in the bottom of the 9th. Josh Reddick doubled in the tying run, and then the Taiwan native, Che-Hsuan Lin, singled in the winning run for a walk-off victory, 7-6. After an incredibly well-pitched first 6 innings for the Sox, they allow 6 runs in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings.

This victory moves the Red Sox record to 4-2 in Spring Training. They play next tomorrow at 1:05pm against the Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL. We will likely see Tim Wakefield start for the Red Sox and former Red Sox prospect Anibal Sanchez start for the Marlins.