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Red Sox-Mariners Preview

Jul 23, 2010 - 7:39 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Boston (54-42) at Seattle (37-59), 10:10 p.m. EDT

After two months on the disabled list, Josh Beckett gets a chance to put his poor start behind him and help the Boston Red Sox get back into the playoff race.

Beckett returns to the mound as Boston looks for back-to-back wins for the first time in three weeks when it continues its four-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Beckett (1-1, 7.29 ERA) rejoins the rotation after being placed on the DL with a lower back strain May 19. The right-hander, who signed a $68 million, four-year extension in late April after winning 17 games in 2009, was off to a dismal start before being sidelined.

"I think he tried to live up to his contract. Not in a bad way," manager Terry Francona said. "He's a conscientious kid."

In Beckett's last trip to the mound, he gave up five runs - three earned - in 4 2-3 innings of a 7-6 win over the Yankees on May 18. He went 0-1 with a 9.67 ERA in his previous five starts before the injury.

Francona feels good about Beckett's return to the rotation, which sends Tim Wakefield to the bullpen.

"Now, he may not throw a no-hitter (Friday), but he's got good arm strength and he's got real good arm speed. And you can hear him in the dugout (on this road trip) making stupid comments, which is good," Francona said jokingly.

Beckett is 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA in five starts against Seattle. The last two times he's faced them was at Safeco Field, winning both outings while posting a 1.98 ERA.

He'll get the start after Boston (54-42) pulled out an 8-6, 13-inning win over the Mariners (37-59) on Thursday. John Lackey went 7 2-3 innings without giving up a hit before allowing a single to Josh Bard. He finished the eighth inning and left with a 6-1 lead, but Seattle scored five times off Manny Delcarmen and closer Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth.

The Red Sox, though, came back to win on Eric Patterson's two-run, two-out double in the 13th.

"That's a tough way to win," Francona said.

Boston remained seven games behind New York in the AL East while moving within four of idle Tampa Bay for the wild-card lead.

Francona's team will now try to earn back-to-back wins for the first time since July 2-3 against Baltimore. The Red Sox have gone 5-10 since.

Seattle will hand the ball to Jason Vargas (6-4, 2.97), who is winless in his last four starts.

Vargas hasn't earned a decision in the last two despite a 1.23 ERA. He gave up one run and four hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 2-1, 10-inning win over the Angels on Sunday, striking out a career-high nine.

The Mariners have scored two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts.

Vargas didn't receive a decision in his only start against Boston after allowing two runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 3-2 win May 17, 2009.