Beckett Buries Red Sox Early in 8-3 Loss

BOSTON, MA - MAY 10: Jason Kipnis #22 of the Cleveland Indians scores in the ninth inning by Jarrod Saltalamacchia #39 of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park May 10, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

If Josh Beckett to silence the fans and media about this whole "golf-gate" as it's being called, he had the perfect opportunity to do so last night. Pitching at Fenway with a chip on his shoulder he could have blown away the Indians and it would have all but gone away.

Instead he went out and poured gasoline on a fire that already had plenty enough to stay burning.

With one on and two out in the second inning, Jack Hannahan unloaded on Beckett for a long home run to right field, giving the Indians a nice 3-0 lead early. The Fenway Faithful made sure Josh knew what they thought (As of he didn't know already) but that was just the beginning of the suck-fest hosted by the Sox starter.

To lead off the Indians half of the third, Jason Kipnis launched a solo homer into the Red Sox bullpen, putting his team ahead 4-1 and starting a domino effect that resulted in the loudest non-ovation I've heard at Fenway in a long time.

A single, a walk and a double by Shin-Soo Choo put the Indians up 5-1 and prompted a visit from Bob McClure that apparently went to the wayside because the very next batter, Michael Brantley, ended the night for Beckett. A 2-run double, a 7-1 deficit and a shower of boo's are what we were left with.

The bullpen was able to shut the offense down for the most part, allowing just an earned run through 6 2/3 IP, with Scott Atchison picking up a pair of those innings but the Red Sox bats couldn't come back from the early hole their starter dug once again.

Old friend Derek Lowe had to work hard in the outing, allowing 9H, 2ER over 6 IP but he was able to limit the damage and pick up a win against his old team. Maybe we could work out a swap? Josh Beckett, free golf clubs and a 12 pack for D-Lowe?

Either way, the Red Sox are now 12-19 and not getting much better. Their starting rotation is in shambles, they can't get big hits when needed most, Bobby Valentine isn't sure what he got himself into. The bullpen shuts teams down when behind but can't hold a lead to save its life. The Red Sox are in trouble.



 Follow John Green on Twitter and Facebook for updates from The Yawkey Report