''Your [pants] are on fire, because there's a guy on third base with less than two outs," Beckett said. ''Builds a lot of character: Get yourself into that situation and get yourself out."
In three starts, opposing hitters are 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position against the 25-year-old Texan. Against Curt Schilling, opponents are 1 for 18 in such situations. That's a combined 3 for 33, an .091 average.
''This," Mike Lowell pointed out, ''is what frontline guys do."
This is why the Sox won, 3-2, yesterday before 36,181 at a windy Fenway Park. This is why they are 8-4, despite having scored fewer runs than every team in the American League except the Royals. This is why the Sox could take three of four against Seattle today despite having all of three hits in 30 at-bats in the series with runners in scoring position.
The good news after Easter Sunday: The Sox appear to have two aces, circa 2004. Beckett is 3-0 for the first time in his career, and, combined, he and Schilling are 6-0 with a 1.47 ERA, 28 strikeouts, and just nine walks.
''He's anybody else's No. 1," Sexson said of Beckett, ''so we knew we had our hands full today."
Not only were the Mariners up against Beckett, but they were up against a first base umpire in Rick Reed who cost them dearly. Kevin Youkilis walked to begin the Sox half of the first, and Mark Loretta doubled to left. David Ortiz popped out, and Manny Ramírez (3 for his last 25) grounded out, plating a run but giving Jarrod Washburn a chance to get out of the inning trailing only 1-0.
Jason Varitek then hit a ball sharply down the third base line to Beltre, who threw across the diamond but up the line to Sexson. Sexson, abandoning the bag, reached for the Sox catcher, who nimbly hit the dirt, reaching for the base with his left hand. Sexson appeared to tag Varitek, not only on the elbow but the side as well.
''He hit me pretty solidly," the catcher acknowledged.
Did Varitek think of informing Reed of this?
