Heroes Get Remembered, but Legends Never Die

Josh Beckett wasn't just good Sunday night against the Yankees, he was legendary.

On a gorgeous Spring night at Fenway Park, Josh Beckett reminded us all exactly why GM Theo Epstein signed him to a four-year, $68 million extension last year despite having one of the worst seasons of his career in 2010.

The former Ace turned number four starter was utterly magnificent and entirely unhittable Sunday night against the hated Yankees, looking more like the dominant 2007 Beckett and not the fragile, underachieving version Sox fans have grown increasingly frustrated with in recent years.

Before a sell-out crowd of 37,861 and millions more tuning in via ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, Beckett tossed eight scoreless innings to propel the Sox to a 4-0 victory over New York. Beckett outdueled CC Sabathia and gave up just two hits (both singles to Robinson Cano and Eric Chavez), while striking out 10 and surrendering just one walk.

He began the game retiring the first seven Yankees he faced in a row and ended the game retiring the last 14 consecutively. Beckett is now 1-1 on the year with a sparkling 2.08 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .159 against him.

"From the very beginning, he was commanding all of his pitches," said manager Terry Francona. "He was really, really good."

In fact, Beckett was so good that he became just the third Red Sox pitcher since 1920 to allow less than three hits and strike out at least 10 in a game against the rival Yankees. 

Yup, you heard that correctly, 1920. 

"It was great, one of his best," said catcher Jason Varitek, who caught Beckett in favor of Jarrod Saltalamacchia. "We needed a good, quality start, especially when you have that other guy on the mound over there. And we got a huge, quality start out of Josh."

It marked the 11th time in Beckett's career that he had struck out at least ten but just the first since July 27, 2009. 

Sure, the vaunted Yankee lineup was without one of their biggest boppers (Alex Rodriguez was under the weather and did not play), but Beckett had such electric stuff Sunday night that he could have faced the 1927 Yankees and mowed down Murderers' Row in straight succession.

For Beckett, it represents a sparkling return to form after falling off mightily in the eyes of Red Sox fans. Also, at a time when all Sox starters not named Jon Lester have seriously underperformed thus far, Beckett's gem Sunday ignites much-needed fire and optimism into a passionate fan base overcome by doubt recently. It also sends a clear signal to the rest of the league that Boston's rotation can be as good as any and a major force to be reckoned with when all five starters are throwing well.

"When our turn (in the rotation comes), we're not thinking about what happened yesterday or in the future," admitted Beckett after the game. "You just take it really day by day."

And on Sunday, Josh Beckett inspired with Nation with one of his greatest performances ever.