Beckett struggles early

11:51 PM, Jul 20, 2012   |    comments
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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Josh Beckett admitted after his latest struggle, a six-inning outing during a 6-1 setback to the Blue Jays, that he's at a loss to explain why he can't consistently make pitches and get batters out in key situations.

Beckett was the victim of a controversial call in a two-run first when Colby Rasmus was called safe on a tag play at the plate when TV replays showed his left hand may not have grazed the corner of the plate. Rasmus was ruled safe. Two hits later, the Jays were ahead 2-0.

"Obviously, the results aren't where you want them to be but you have to keep going out there," Beckett said. "There's nothing you can really do."

Beckett faced another key moment in the second when he had the chance to get out of the inning with no runs scoring. But with two outs and Yunel Escobar on third, he walked the light-hitting Anthony Gose. Beckett then allowed a two- run double to Rasmus to extend the Jays' lead to 4-0.

"I don't know," Beckett said of his confidence level. "I can't say I'm looking at a whole lot of positives from that outing. I got burned whenever I didn't make pitches."

In falling to 5-8 on the season, Beckett allowed five runs - four earned - and seven hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking three in the process.

The Sports Network