It was Boston's seventh loss in its last eight games, its ninth in its last 11 and its sixth straight to the Rays, who are back within three games in the once-dormant American League wild card race.
And now, with thoughts of a once-unthinkable collapse becoming more realistic, Red Sox Nation turns its lonely eyes to Josh Beckett.
"Yeah, it'll be nice to see him out there healthy," manager Terry Francona said. "Nice to see him out there attacking the strike zone and being the Josh we've come to rely on. They like their guy too, but that gives us a big lift for sure."
Beckett hasn't pitched since Sept. 5, when he suffered a sprained right ankle in a start at Toronto. Boston is 2-7 in his absence, with just one quality start to its credit. The bullpen has been forced to pick up the slack from a reeling rotation, but it has struggled, too. In so many ways, the staff needs its leader.
Francona has not indicated that Beckett will be on a pitch count, but the staff will keep a close eye on their star right-hander. If Beckett pitches the way he has in prior meetings with the Rays (17 scoreless innings in two starts against them this year), he may just right this sinking ship. If there are any issues with the ankle or any rust he needs to shake off, the Red Sox could be in quite a bind. His margin for error may be thin against James Shields, who ranks just behind Beckett in the American League ERA race, is healthy and is coming off an 8 1/3-inning gem against Boston last weekend.
In addition, although Jon Lester goes Saturday for the Sox, he is coming off a pretty poor outing against these very same Rays five days ago, and will be opposed by Jeff Niemann, who is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in two starts versus Boston in 2011.
All-Star David Price goes against Tim Wakefield on Sunday, a matchup Tampa Bay will take eight days a week.
The season does not completely ride on Beckett's ability to overcome the ankle injury and pitch like he has all year. But if he cannot, the window of opportunity that the Rays currently have will open up even wider.
