It also gave Boston every reason to believe it can be a factor in the postseason.
The Red Sox would never speak in such terms, for they preach the one-game-at-a-time approach as well as anyone, but they're not fools. And you'd have to be one to not view Beckett's success, or lack thereof, as the biggest indication of this team's long-term success.
So, when Beckett went six very good innings in his first start in 11 days, fueling a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays and putting to rest any lingering concern over the condition of his sprained right ankle, it was easy for one to dream of better days ahead for a team that has had a miserable month. With a healthy Beckett and Jon Lester leading the charge, the beleaguered pitching staff just might be able to survive a five- or seven-game series.
True to form, the Red Sox weren’t biting on that notion, as legit as it is. They remain focused only on survival.
"They're all big wins now," said Beckett, who improved to 13-5 as Boston opened up a four-game lead in the wild card race. "We kind of put ourselves in a little bit of a position where all the wins are going to be big from here on out, even when we're playing people that we’re not actually in the race with because the other teams that are in the race are going to be playing games those days as well."
For several of those days since Beckett sprained his ankle, the pitching staff offered little resistance. There was just one quality start in the 2-7 slump between his starts, and that one occurred 10 days ago. It was a stretch that was completely devoid of positives from the rotation, as well as the bullpen, and it suddenly threw the team’s prospects for October glory into serious doubt.
That all can change if Beckett can be the dominant force he was for the first five months of the season. Although the club had begun to tailspin, manager Terry Francona knew that he needed that force, and not just some beaten up version.
"We wouldn't have pitched him if he wasn’t ready. We need him to be Beckett. We don’t need him to be Beckett in name only," Francona said. "Despite what's been happening, we want him to pitch effectively, or have a chance to pitch effectively."
The hope for effectiveness took an early hit. Leadoff hitter Desmond Jennings chose to test Beckett's mobility by dropping down a beauty of a bunt on the first pitch. Beckett fielded it near the first-base line but could only make an awkward underhand toss that rolled away from first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, allowing Jennings to go to second.
One pitch. One single. One error. Two batters later it was 2-0 as Evan Longoria skied a homer into the first row of the Monster seats. Although they wouldn't admit it, some of those in the Red Sox dugout had to be thinking what the 38,019 in attendance were: If Beckett's not right, does this team have a leg on which to stand?
Beckett would calm the masses. He allowed only an unearned run the rest of the way. The only walk he gave up was of the intentional variety. And like a guy who's been in big games before, and may be in many more next month, he got the majority of his seven K's in big spots.
Francona admitted he could sense Beckett rising to the occasion.
"I hope he does a lot," Francona said when asked if Beckett liked pitching in big games. "As tough as the last 10 days have been, in this atmosphere, this is, I think, why they work all winter. This is exciting. I was as nervous as can be. You can’t get that feeling. You know you’re going to win, you just don’t know how. Some nights you don't, but you always feel like you're gonna. It’s a great feeling."
The same can be said for knowing that your key to survival in the month of October has made a triumphant return.
