GAME INFO:
Date: Saturday, May 20th, 2006
First Pitch: 7:05 ET
TV: NESN
Radio: WEEI 850
Starting Pitchers:
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/6403.jpg VS. http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/6864.jpg
PITCHING MATCHUP:
BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (5-1, 4.24 ERA)
The Phils' probable lineup is a combined 30-for-143 (.210) off the right-hander.
PHI: RHP Brett Myers (2-1, 2.73 ERA)
He has one shutout vs. Boston, but has a 12.27 ERA in his other three starts against the Red Sox.
PREVIEW:
Despite recent scares, Josh Beckett has no problem with his back and no problem with blisters.
And lately, he's had no problem getting hitters out, either.
Beckett will take the mound on Saturday in Philadelphia coming off wins in his last two starts. Over that span, he allowed five runs in 14 innings, striking out 13 and not walking a batter.
In his last start -- an 11-1 win in Baltimore -- the right-hander made his manager a little nervous when he tweaked his back while throwing his warmup tosses before the sixth inning.
But Terry Francona said on Friday that his Saturday starter is going to be fine.
"He was fine then," Francona said. "Again, a lot of that is us overreacting. He just slipped. He had a bunch of mud in his spikes."
Because of his time with the Marlins in the National League East, Beckett is very familiar with facing the Phillies.
He is 6-3 lifetime with a 3.79 ERA in 16 starts against Philadelphia.
Beckett will be opposed by Brett Myers, whose 2-1 record is a bit misleading. Myers has been the Phillies' best starter this season with a 2.73 ERA. He has no-decisions in his last three starts, but the Phillies have won all three of those games.
"I met him the day he signed," said Terry Francona, who was managing the Phils when they drafted Myers. "He's come a long way. He's got good stuff. Our guy [beckett] is pretty good, too."