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Josh Beckett Debut - In the Seventh Inning, Boston Rose Again
by Andy Liakos
2006-04-06
Nixon gets the glory, but Beckett wins the game. After a dismal Tuesday night showing in Arlington, The Boston Red Sox pull it together with a big win tonight, taking home their first series of the season. Josh Beckett took the mound in his first American League outing, giving up only one run and pitching one hell of a game.
The 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers took some real hard work by both Boston's lineup, and their pitching staff. Josh Beckett pitched a great game, and brought some really nasty stuff with him to the mound. He struggled at the beginning, but managed to overcome Wilkerson's double, a wild pitch to third, and Young's RBI single to put the Rangers on top in the first inning.
Boston was struggling at the plate for the second night in a row, but that didn't seem to flutter second baseman , Mark Loretta. Both of Boston's hits up through the fifth inning were credited by singles from their newly acquired hitter in the number two spot. If people have already forgotten, tonight they were once again reminded that only a year ago, Mark Loretta was the toughest guy to strike out in the National League.
In the sixth inning, Coco Crisp hit a groundball triple up the right field line, and man can that that boy run. But it wasn't until the seventh inning, that Boston rose again, thanks to fan-favorite and franchise player, Trot Nixon. He hit a hit a two-run shot to put the Sox on top, and that one swing of the bat would clinch their much anticipated second win of the season.
Josh Beckett wasn't Boston's only star on the mound tonight, as Jonathan Papelbon came through with the big save. After retiring the first three batters of the ninth, in a 1,2,3 inning, it was easy to forget that this kid is only a rookie. He showed tremendous command and concentration, and managed to put yet another stitch in the fabric of Boston's potentially indestructible bullpen.
Check out all of our Boston Red Sox Articles by Andy Liakos.
