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Nov 13, 2007 2:00 pm US/Eastern
Red Sox Beckett Finishes Second In Cy Young Race
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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The Red Sox Josh Beckett won Game One of the World Series against the Colorado Rockies.
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Boston's Josh Beckett just missed adding to the Red Sox list of post-season accolades Tuesday.
The Red Sox ace was considered one of the favorites to win the American League's Cy Young Award, but instead finished second to Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia.
On Monday, the Red Sox Dustin Pedroia won the A.L. Rookie of the Year, and earlier this month Kevin Youkilis won a gold glove at first base.
Beckett was the major leagues only 20 game winner. Beckett finished the regular season with a record of 20 and 7, and earned run average of 3.27, 194 strikeouts and 1.14 WHIP (that's walks plus hits over innings pitched).
The 27-year old set career bests in wins, ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, and a career low 40 walks. He's now added to his win total in each of the last four seasons. He also started and won the 2007 All-Star Game.
He was even better in the playoffs. Beckett took home the ALCS Most Valuable Player Award after helping lead the Red Sox big comeback against the Cleveland Indians. Beckett won both games he pitched in the series and had a miniscule ERA of 1.93.
He also started and won Game One of the World Series at Fenway Park. Beckett allowed only one run in seven innings, and struck out five against the Colorado Rockies in a 13 to one Boston win.
Overall Beckett had four wins and no losses and a 1.20 ERA in the post-season, further cementing his reputation as a great big game pitcher.
However, these awards are voted on before the playoffs begin.
Sabathia went 19 and 7 with a 3.21 ERA in a league high 34 starts and 241 innings for the Cleveland Indians.
Beckett would have been the fourth Red Sox hurler to win the Cy Young Award. The last was Pedro Martinez in 2000. Martinez also won the award in 1999, joining three time winner Roger Clemens (1986, 1987 and 1991) and Jim Lonborg. Lonborg was the Red Sox first Cy Young Award winner when he was honored in 1967.
The National League Cy Young Award will also be handed out Thursday.
The San Diego Padres' Jake Peavy is considered the favorite in the N.L. Peavy won pitching's "triple crown" in 2007, leading the league with 19 wins, 240 strike outs and a 2.54 ERA. The Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Webb is also considered a favorite. Webb pitched 42 consecutive scoreless innings this past season, the seventh most in National League History.
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