BOSTONLast season Josh Becket made 30 starts for the Red Sox. Jarrod Saltalamacchia caught the first one, on April 5, and the final, on Sept. 26. Jason Varitek was behind the plate for the Becketts 28 starts in between.
Saltalamacchia was behind the plate for Becketts first start this season, a dismal performance by the Sox right-hander, when he lasted just 4 23 innings, giving up seven runs and five home runs in a loss to the Tigers.
For Fridays home opener against the Rays, Kelly Shoppach was Becketts catcher. Which came as somewhat of a surprise to Shoppach.
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Before the game manager Bobby Valentine said Shoppachs spot in the lineup was attributable to his knowledge of the Rays, for whom he played the last two seasons, and his ability to hit left-handers, with David Price starting for Tampa Bay. Shoppach, a right-handed batter, has a career .271 average against lefties. Saltalamacchia, a switch-hitter, has a career mark of .206 against lefties as a right-handed batter.
Indeed, Shoppach nearly proved Valentine prophetic, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI, two doubles, reaching base four times, getting hit by a pitch, and recording his first career stolen base.
He did a great job, Valentine said. Working with Josh for the first time, he did a really good job behind the plate. His offense came through, getting hit by a pitch started a rally. His double started a rally. He stole a base for the first time in his career. It was a nice opening day at home for Kelly Shoppach.
In spring training, Saltalamacchia started four of Becketts six outings, with Shoppach starting the other two. Perhaps, though, it was something more than Shoppachs offense that got him into the lineup. Perhaps it is a pairing we are likely to see more in the future.
Asked what he thought of Shoppach's performance Beckett replied:
Good.
Asked what he thought of the importance of chemistry, Beckett replied:
I mean, he tossed some good fingers. Its like the joke between the starters. We want whoevers back there who can put the good fingers down. He did a good job today.
In his first start last season, Beckett had similar results to his first start this season. In 2011, against the Indians in Cleveland, he took a loss, going five innings, giving up three runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. He earned the win in his next start, going eight shutout innings at home against the Yankees, allowing just two hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts.
Beckett was at a loss to explain the dichotomy between his first and second starts this season and last season.
I dont know, he said. I think coming out of spring training, theres definitely a different feel of starts down there and you get going in the season and there's just a lot of exterior distractions that maybe that you can't calm down the first time. Its tough.