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Beckett, Lackey aim to use playoff experience in Game One

Oct 3, 2007 - 2:37 PM LA Angels at Boston 6:30 pm EDT American League Division Series Game One

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Josh Beckett is trying to pick up where he left off the last time he played in the postseason.

Beckett makes his first playoff start since 2003 when the Boston Red Sox open up a best-of-five American League Division Series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday.

When he was a member of the Florida Marlins, Beckett was named the 2003 World Series Most Valuable Player after pitching a five-hit shutout in the deciding Game Six against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

In order to duplicate that success, Beckett believes he will have to execute pitches, something he did the last time he pitched in October.

"I've got to go out and execute pitches, just like I did in 2003," Beckett said. "Just like I did throughout this season. I don't think anything's going to change because - they're certainly not going to be a different lineup because of what I did in 2003."

Beckett finished the regular season with a 20-7 record, becoming the first 20-game winner in the major leagues since four pitchers, including the Angels' Bartolo Colon, accomplished the feat in 2005. Beckett's 3.27 ERA was sixth-best in the AL while he ranked seventh in strikeouts with 194.

The 27-year-old righthander greatly improved upon his 2006 season in which he went 16-11 with a 5.01 ERA. The reason: executing pitches.

"Like I said, I'm just trying to execute pitches," Beckett said. "You know, some days are better than others. I don't get too far into all the other stuff. It's just one of those deals, you know, execute more pitches this year."

Beckett's improvement has made him manager Terry Francona's go-to guy.

"We've seen a young guy work so hard and mature so much, and he became the guy that we really needed him to become," Francona said. "And every good team has guys like that on the team, where you send your guy, and you say this is our guy, and go get 'em. And he'll respond to adversity, and he competes."

Beckett has only started two games against the Angels this season. He last faced them on August 17, allowing two runs - one earned - and five hits over seven innings. Beckett struck out eight and only walked one batter, but did not factor into the decision as the Angels rallied for the 7-5 victory.

For his career, Beckett is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts against the Angels.

John Lackey, who will counter Beckett in Game One, is looking to improve upon his dismal performances against the Red Sox. The 28-year-old righthander is 0-2 with a 8.38 ERA in two starts against Boston this season with both coming on the road.

Lackey is just 1-6 with a 6.27 ERA in 11 starts lifetime against the Red Sox and 1-4 with a 7.46 ERA for his career at Fenway Park.

While he may prefer to pitch at Angels Stadium, Lackey will not shy away from unfriendly Fenway.

"I think this time of year doesn't matter where you are," Lackey said. "It's the postseason, this is where we want to be. And I'll pitch anywhere this time of year."

Like Beckett, the Angels' ace has also clinched a world championship. As a rookie, Lackey lifted Los Angeles over the San Francisco Giants in Game Seven of the 2002 World Series, surrendering one run and four hits over five innings.

Lackey will use that experience when he takes the mound on Wednesday.

"I think it's definitely something I can draw upon," Lackey said of his postseason experience. "Pitched in a few playoff games, (Game Seven), obviously, being the biggest one. My mindset in that game, I was a rookie, I was coming up with a lot of veterans.

"I was just hoping to contribute at that point. I wasn't really going to try to do too much. Just try to get the ball to the bullpen, because we had a great bullpen doing a lot of good things that year."

Game Two will be played at Fenway Park on Friday.