• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Beckett vs. Hellickson highlights Red Sox/Rays clash

Jun 15, 2011 - 2:48 PM (Sports Network) - A terrific pitching matchup is on tap at Tropicana Field this evening when Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox continue a three-game set against rookie Jeremy Hellickson and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Beckett has enjoyed a marvelous bounce-back campaign this season following an injury-plagued 2010 that saw him pitch to a 5.78 earned run average in 21 starts. The right-hander has been one of the best pitchers in the league this year, going 5-2 with a 2.06 ERA that is tied for the best in the majors.

Beckett won for the first time in three starts on Thursday against the New York Yankees, as he held them to a pair of runs and four hits in seven innings. He also struck out six in the win.

In 16 starts against the Rays, Beckett has posted a 7-4 mark to go along with a 3.43 ERA.

Boston saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end in Tuesday's opener, as James Shields turned in his third shutout of the season to help Tampa Bay take a 4-0 win.

Shields (6-4) also tossed his fourth complete game of the year, giving up five hits with three walks while striking out five. The right-hander also won for the first time since May 22, snapping a three-start winless string.

Justin Ruggiano homered, while Casey Kotchman posted two hits and an RBI for the Rays, who have won six of their last eight outings.

"Yes, we are the defending American League East champs and we plan on defending it and recapturing the flag again," Tampa manager Joe Maddon said. "And don't let anybody think anything differently."

Adrian Gonzalez recorded three hits for the Red Sox, who had tallied at least five runs in every contest during the streak. Carl Crawford received a mixed reaction from the Tropicana faithful and was hitless in three at-bats in his return to St. Petersburg.

"He kept the ball down in the zone," Crawford said. "He threw all of his pitches. He mixed it up really well. He kept the ball from hitting our barrels pretty good. ... [Shields] pitched a good game tonight. I know those guys over there step it up when the Red Sox come to town. I expected him to pitch one of his best games, and he did."

Tim Wakefield (3-2) worked seven innings and took the loss despite allowing just four hits and one earned run. The veteran knuckleballer did issue five walks and a wild pitch.

Hellickson has been one of the AL's best rookies here in 2011, going 7-4 with a 3.03 ERA. The young right-hander, though, had his worst start of the year his last time out on Friday in Baltimore, as the Orioles ripped him for five runs - all of which in the first two innings - and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"He wasn't sharp, but he got through it," Maddon said of Hellickson. "You take back the grand slam, which was a big, huge play, absolutely. But overall, he fought through it. And I kind of like the way he fought through the whole night, and he did OK."

Hellickson beat the Red Sox earlier in the year, but has pitched to a 6.43 ERA in his two appearances against them.

Tampa swept a weather-abbreviated two-game series from the Red Sox earlier in the year at Fenway Park.