Offense is absent in 5th straight loss

August 30, 2006|Globe Staff

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The margin of error is so tiny that Josh Beckett was actually chiding himself for throwing a fastball high and away to Eric Chavez in the fourth inning that resulted in the A's first run.

``That was a dumb pitch to Chavez," Beckett said following the Red Sox' 2-1 loss to the A's before 30,517 at McAfee Coliseum last night. ``We were outplayed in every aspect of the game."

A pitcher isn't supposed to utter those words on a night when he works seven innings and allows two runs on five hits. But Beckett did, because the Boston offense is so pathetic now that it would be inhumane to be critical of it.

It's an offense that, with a total of six hits last night, made Kirk Saarloos look like a star. An offense that has produced 17 runs in eight games. An offense that, without Manny Ramírez, David Ortiz, Trot Nixon, and Jason Varitek, is now a collection of glorified Triple A hitters.

``Its a big difference," said Saarloos (7-6), ``but at the same time, nobody felt sorry for us without Bobby [Crosby] and Rich Harden and minus a bunch of guys. But I'd be lying to you if it didn't make a difference."

For the most part, Red Sox starting pitchers have nothing to complain about when it comes to offensive support. They've pitched so badly over the last 38 games -- only eight times has a starter gone seven or more innings -- that they can't point the finger at anyone else.

But Beckett could have sued for nonsupport last night.

The best chance the Sox had to tie the game came in the seventh when they got back-to-back singles by Carlos Peña and Doug Mirabelli with one out. But Dustin Pedroia grounded to first, and with men on second and third, Coco Crisp struck out to end the inning.

The Crisp at-bat was the story in a nutshell. In losing their fifth straight game -- and 13th of 16 -- the Sox couldn't get that one big hit with men in scoring position that might have started some momentum.

Beckett allowed the two runs and threw 104 pitches in his 28th start. He walked three and gave up those five hits before Terry Francona brought in Manny Delcarmen to start the eighth.

``We're beaten up," said Beckett. ``It's tough to lose one-half of your lineup and compete against the leaders of divisions, but we've got another month, and nobody is gonna quit.

``We take this [expletive] seriously. We've got to win tomorrow."

Last Thursday, Beckett sustained a cut on the side of his right middle finger as he worked six innings in a 2-1 win over the Angels (the Sox' last triumph). But the wound healed quickly and Beckett was able to pitch effectively last night. He said he had no problem with the finger and was able to throw his breaking pitches.