Beckett's stellar outing could help quiet critics

For those less inclined to lose their minds over some beer, chicken, and golf -- the perfect Saturday for many of us -- perhaps the time has arrived to admit that Josh Beckett has actually pitched pretty well this year.

It won't be reflected in the numbers, even after Tuesday's 5-0 win over Seattle that saw the Boston Red Sox right-hander throw seven innings and strike out nine. Beckett toyed with the punchless Mariners, lowering his ERA to 4.97, which doesn't seem like much to look at.

However, when one considers that he gave up seven runs in starts against the Tigers (his first after the beer-fueled disaster of September) and Indians (coming on the heels of his much-maligned golf outing when supposedly injured), the rest of his body of work looks pretty Beckett-like.

Beckett has compiled quality starts in his other five outings, going 3-2 with a 1.82 ERA. He has also struck out 30 in 34 2/3 innings. Not bad for a guy who supposedly (a) doesn't care, and (b) can't win without his 95 mph fastball anymore.

"He just looked like he took control of the game -- he stood out there and wanted everyone to know he was Josh Beckett, including the opposition," manager Bobby Valentine said. "Threw strikes, had all his pitches, worked quickly with his catcher and mowed 'em down."

The Mariners never touched Beckett, recording just four hits and advancing only two runners as far as second base. The start, coming on Beckett's 32nd birthday, should go a long way toward silencing the doubters who believe Beckett betrayed the fans when he hit the links a couple of weeks ago.

And the Red Sox's fifth consecutive victory should similarly quell -- at least temporarily -- the feelings of unrest that had engulfed the fandom during a 12-19 start.

"I'm surprised you guys are still here," Dustin Pedroia half-joked with reporters. "We're going to bring some positive around here now. It's been good, we played good today, we just have got to keep it rolling."