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Putting Beckett in Perspective »
October 3, 2007
BOSTON -- Mike Scioscia knew what the story was last night in Game One of the American League Division Series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
"The story tonight is (Josh) Beckett," the Angels manager said after watching his team fail to score while being held to just three hits by Boston's ace righthander, who retired 19 in a row after giving up a leadoff single in the first inning to Chone Figgins.
"The guy pitched an incredible ballgame."
Beckett pitched the kind of game Scioscia had been hoping for from his top starter, John Lackey, who won 19 games in helping the Angels win the A.L. West.
But unlike Beckett, who was throwing almost nothing but strikes, Lackey kept falling behind in the count -- especially in the early innings.
"Early in the game, getting early-count strikes was tough," Scioscia said. "It's too good of an offense to be behind, as he was."
Once the Angels fell behind 4-0 in the third, Scioscia knew it going to be tough to come back against Beckett.
"Beckett was about as good as we've seen him," Scioscia said. "I don't think you're going to be able to pitch a much better game that that.
"We just didn't quite pitch at a high enough level early in the game to stay within a run or two to give ourselves a chance to manufacture, or do something. Obviously, the way Beckett was throwing the ball, runs were going to be at a premium, and we didn't get any."
One of the only chances the Angels had was in the first, when Figgins moved to second on an infield grounder and then had third base stolen until Vladimir Guerrero hit a grounder that Sox third baseman Mike Lowell turned into the second out. Beckett then struck out cleanup hitter Garret Anderson, and didn't allow another baserunner until after there was one out in the seventh.
"We didn't have too many good looks at him," Scioscia said.
After a day off Thursday, the Angels will be looking at Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game Two on Friday night.
"You know we want to get back out there (right away)," said Scioscia. "I'm going to be honest with you -- the fact that this series stretches out so long is a weird set-up."
It doesn't help the Angels that David Ortiz, who hit a two-run homer in the third, and Manny Ramirez, who sat out most of September, are feeling good again and swinging well.
"We've seen that combination for quite some time," Scioscia said. "It's as good as it gets. You've got a left-right balance, and you've got two guys that get the ball out of any part of any ballpark. Those guys are good."
And Beckett couldn't have been much better.
"At times," said Scioscia, "you've got to tip your cap. It was a terrific game Beckett pitched."
Posted by Jim Donaldson 
at 10:53 PM | Permalink
