Smackdown

“They just beat us,’’ left fielder Jason Bay said. “Early on, we were the better team when we played them. Right now, they’re the better team. Over the course of a season, I think it’s all about how it’s not always the best team winning, it’s the better team at the time. Right now they’re definitely better than we are.’’

His outing was “frustrating,’’ said Beckett, who said he had no physical issues. “You can’t give up seven and eight runs every time you go out there. Not going to be here very long if you do that.

“It felt all right sometimes. Obviously whenever they jump on them, the result’s not great. But bottom line is eight runs in eight innings is not going to get it done.’’

Combined with his start against Toronto last Tuesday, Beckett has allowed 15 runs on 18 hits over 13 1/3 innings. His ERA had swollen by more than half a run, from 3.10 to 3.65, by the time Matsui circled the bases for the second time, this solo shot coming in the eighth after Beckett had strung together nine straight outs.

Beckett became just the third Red Sox pitcher since 1954 to allow five homers in a game, along with Dennis Eckersley and Tim Wakefield (twice).

“A little bit like the last outing,’’ Sox manager Terry Francona said. “He’s been struggling to get that good two-seam movement. This team [Yankees] doesn’t need help elevating the ball, they can do it on their own. And the fastball, especially early, was a little bit flat. Early they were hunting first-pitch fastball, and they got a couple of them.’’

Beckett threw 120 pitches, tying a season high set May 16, in a game that hardly met the fanfare or expectations. Francona explained that Beckett came out for the eighth because he had been on that out streak, and because Manny Delcarmen had warmed up so much. Takashi Saito worked the ninth.