Josh Beckett Throws a Gem for his 100th Career Win

Sports Betting News - July 13th, 2009 - Written by Bruce

Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was brilliant on Sunday as he threw a three hit shutout against the Royals earning him his eleventh win on the season. Becket (11-3) put on quite a performance showing complete command of his pitches as he dominated the Royals lineup. The win gave Beckett his 100th career win and 7th career complete game. On Sunday he threw only 94 pitches in the shutout. He routinely threw his fastball right by the Kansas City hitters and looked as sharp as he ever has in his great career. In his last ten decisions Beckett has nine wins and an ERA of 2.14. Becket is undefeated at home this year with a 6-0 record. The win makes Beckett and his teammate Tim Wakefield the only 11 game winner this year in the American League.

With Sunday's win the Red Sox are now twenty games over .500 with a 54-34 record. They are three games ahead of the 2nd place Yankees in the AL East. The only team with a better record in the major leagues is the Los Angeles Dodgers who are at 56-32. Boston has been playing well all year long and they are going into the All Star break winners of four of their last five games. Having their ace Beckett pitching so well will make them a tough team to beat in a postseason series. He has been so dominant pitching in the postseason that many believe he is the greatest postseason pitcher the game has seen. He seems to elevate his play when the stakes are the highest. He won the 2003 World Series MVP Award when he led the Marlins to a World Series Championship. In 2007 while playing with the Red Sox he won the ALCS MVP Award helping them go on to win the 2007 World Series. If he can stay healthy it will be tough for opposing teams to face him more than once in a postseason series. Beckett is pitching as well as anyone in the game right now.

Sunday's win gave Beckett his 2nd complete game shutout in his last 5 starts. To have two pitchers with 11 wins at the All Star break is an impressive statistic to say the least. The Red Sox have been on a roll all season and their DH David Ortiz has started to hit the ball much better after a brutal start to the season. If he can stay productive for them in the 2nd half Boston will likely be heading to the playoffs. The Royals dropped to 37-51 and are 11.5 games back of the first place Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. Boston now leads Kansas City 3-1 for the season series.