Beckett returns from illness, goes 3 1-3
March 19, 2010
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP)—Josh Beckett(notes) pitched 3 1-3 innings after missing his laststart because of an illness, allowing four runs on six hits as the Boston RedSox lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-7 on Friday.
Beckett, who walked two and struck out one, was slated to pitch Sundayagainst the Minnesota Twins but was a late scratch.
“The numbers don’t look good, but the most important number today was 70pitches,” Beckett said. “It would’ve been nice to take 70 pitches a lotfarther than 3 1-3 (innings), but I got my work in.”
Beckett was bedridden for four days and lost about three pounds while he wasdown with flu-like symptoms. He’s still weak, but was eager to get back on themound.
“The last time I was 100 percent I was about 16 years old,” Beckett said.“If we’re looking for 100 percent, I think I might make two starts this year.”
Beckett expects to be ready for Boston’s season opener April 4 against theNew York Yankees.
“I don’t think it will be a problem,” Beckett said. “We’ve got three orfour more starts before then.”
Pirates left-hander Paul Maholm(notes) worked four innings and gave up three runs,two of them unearned. David Ortiz(notes) hit a two-run homer off Maholm in the firstinning.
“It went down and in, right into his swing,” Maholm said.
Maholm, the Pirates’ likely Opening Day starter, has not faced an easylineup in four starts this spring. After two games each against the Red Sox andYankees, Maholm has a 2.70 ERA.
Maholm’s next start will be Wednesday against the Red Sox.
“It’s fun,” Maholm said. “It keeps you working. Today, I made a couplemistakes and I paid for them. That’s something that’s going to happen during theregular season. But, overall, it was a good outing.”
Delwyn Young(notes) knocked Beckett out of the game with a two-run home run, hisfifth homer of the spring—all coming in a six-game span. Garrett Jones(notes) andSteve Pearce(notes) also hit two-run homers for the Pirates.
NOTES: Doctors told Red Sox INF Gil Velazquez(notes) he’ll be out six weeks due toa fractured bone in his left thumb. Velazquez, who has a team-high seven RBIthis spring, was injured Tuesday. … OF Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) (illness) worked outFriday and is expected to be in Boston’s lineup Saturday against the BaltimoreOrioles. … RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka(notes) returned from Boston, where on Thursday hiswife gave birth to a daughter. Matsuzaka will pitch in a minor league gameeither Sunday or Monday. … Two of the Pirates’ top prospects, 3B Pedro Alvarez(notes)and OF Jose Tabata(notes), were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Also, OF JonathanVan Every(notes), INF Doug Bernier(notes) and Ps Jimmy Barthmaier(notes), Neal Cotts(notes), Craig Hansen(notes)and Tyler Yates(notes) were reassigned to minor league camp.
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