Beckett rights the ship

Wrong question, wrong place, wrong time. "Get as far away as I can from you," Francona snapped, in a rare loss of civility, one that he was somewhat abashed about the next day.

Yesterday's stroll, after a 6-2 Red Sox win over the Orioles in which Josh Beckett became the majors' first 15-game winner and came within a strike of a complete game, promised to be a more tranquil experience.

"I've got my son [Nick] with me," Francona said. "My bodyguard. We're probably going to stop for a bite to eat. He can sign the autographs."

Is there a better way to have a bounce-back game after a bullpen meltdown than "running Beckett out there," Francona said, finishing the thought? "No. It's very reassuring. It allowed us to put yesterday in the past in a hurry, and that's a big compliment to Beckett."

Beckett might have stuck around longer to bask in the cheers of a crowd of 49,242, which topped Friday night's Sox-centric gathering to become the largest of the season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. But he was so annoyed at giving up two runs after coming within a pitch of a complete game, and not finishing what he'd started, that he sprinted off the mound after Francona came to get him.

Francona said he was too busy talking to catcher Jason Varitek while awaiting Manny Delcarmen that he didn't notice. "As long as he doesn't pull a hamstring," Francona said of the Beckett sprint.

From his spot in right field, J.D. Drew saw the accelerated exit.

"I knew he was aggravated at himself for giving up a couple," Drew said. "He was ready to come off the field and throw a couple of helmets. But after a tough loss, for a guy to come in and slam the door like he did after we got a couple of runs on the board for him, that's just the kind of game you want."

Evidence that Drew's own mood had lightened appeared when he was spotted laughing at first base following the opposite-field, two-run single he dropped just inside the left-field foul line in the third inning, giving the Sox a 4-0 lead. That was the second bit of serendipity to come his way. In the second inning, he hit a ball that bounced over the head of first baseman Kevin Millar following Varitek's single that put runners on second and third against Orioles rookie lefty Garrett Olson. Julio Lugo brought those runs home with a line double to left.