BOSTON (AP) -Josh Beckett waited four extra days for a chance to show his postseason brilliance.
That shine wore off with his very first pitch.
The Red Sox right-hander had the worst outing of his 10 postseason starts as Boston lost 5-4 to the Los Angeles Angels in 12 innings on Sunday night. He gave up a double to Chone Figgins on his first pitch and needed 30 pitches and 22 minutes to record three outs.
The Angels cut Boston’s lead in the first-round series to 2-1. Game 4 is Monday night at Fenway Park.
One year and two days earlier, Beckett was at his best against the Angels.
He pitched a four-hit shutout in the opener of Boston’s three-game sweep, a 4-0 win. He struck out eight and walked none.
He was on track to start the postseason opener this year when he hit a detour. He strained his side in a bullpen session and was pushed back in the rotation.
d the Red Sox would have their third straight three-game sweep of the Angels in a first-round series in the last five years.
And Beckett, pronounced recovered after a bullpen session last week in California, seemed to be the man to complete it.
Then Figgins doubled down the right-field line and scored on a two-out, bases-loaded walk to Juan Rivera. Beckett limited the damage by getting Dustin Pedroia to ground into a fielder’s choice.
Then he gave up Mike Napoli’s two-run homer in the third that tied it at 3 and a solo shot by Napoli that gave the Angels the lead in the fifth. He ended his evening by striking out Figgins to end that inning, and Kevin Youkilis’ RBI double in the bottom half got him off the hook.
Beckett left with a 2.09 ERA in 11 postseason performances after entering the game at 1.73. He allowed four runs after giving up just one in 16 innings in his other two first-round appearances in his career.
Beckett had won his previous five playoff starts with a 0.92 ERA. Last year, when the Red Sox won their second championship in four seasons, he went 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA in the postseason.
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