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PREGAME: Lesson learned for Papelbon »
October 13, 2007
By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- Josh Beckett threw only 80 pitches, covering six innings, in the Red Sox' 10-3 Game One ALCS victory at Fenway Park last night.
But, cautioned manager Terry Francona, don't read too much into that decision. He was not lifted, leading by a 10-2 margin, because Francona thought the game was in the bag and by limiting his pitch count Beckett would then be in line to start Game Four in Cleveland on Tuesday night.
That's what Cubs' manager Lou Piniella said he was doing when he took out ace right-hander Carlos Zambrano after 85 pitches in six innings in the opener of Chicago's ALDS series against Arizona, a series the Diamondbacks swept, negating the need for a Game Four.
No, said Francona, who last Tuesday penciled in Tim Wakefield to make that Game Four start. The reason for taking out Beckett was simple, and it led to a positive bullpen byproduct, too.
''(Saving him for Game Four) had nothing to do with it,'' Francona said Saturday afternoon. ''We just had a couple of long innings, there were (Cleveland) pitching changes, it was cold. (Beckett) was in the back (in the clubhouse) trying to stay loose. The longer the inning went, we just thought it didn't make sense (to send him back out for the seventh).''
As a result, Francona was able to take a little rust off relievers Mike Timlin, Javier Lopez and Eric Gagne.
''That was secondary,'' said Francona of being able to give an inning apiece to three relievers. ''But that was okay. Where we were in the (Indians') order was set up for Timlin.''
Posted by Steven Krasner 
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