Francona is not giving away plans

BOSTON -- Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said Saturday that his decision to pull Josh Beckett after six innings and 80 pitches in Friday’s 10-3 Game 1 win had nothing to do with a plan to bring his ace back on three days’ rest to start Game 4.

“It was a long [sixth] inning, it was cold, we had a big lead,� Francona said.

For those who follow the Red Sox regularly, he wasn’t very convincing. Most think Francona will start Beckett on short rest in Game 4 on Tuesday instead of knuckleball-throwing Tim Wakefield, who sat out the division series because of a back injury and hasn’t pitched since Sept. 29.

Beckett, who has given up two runs and eight hits in 15 playoff innings, striking out 15 and walking none, would probably give Boston a better chance of winning Game 4 than Wakefield, a right-hander whose repertoire might not be conducive to Jacobs Field’s short right-field porch.

Starting Beckett in Game 4 would also align him for a possible Game 7 start Oct. 21 on regular rest. Wakefield, though, is a 13-year Red Sox veteran and a highly respected member of the team.

It hasn’t been Game Over for Eric Gagne since the ex-Dodgers closer was traded from Texas to Boston on July 31.

After going 2-0 with a 2.16 earned-run average and converting 16 of 17 saves for the Rangers, the right-hander was 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 20 games for the Red Sox, blowing all three of his save chances.

Gagne gave Boston fans another scare Friday, entering Game 1 in the ninth inning and allowing Cleveland to load the bases with two out before striking out Grady Sizemore to end the game.

The Red Sox no longer use Gagne in the late innings of games they’re leading by a run or two, but they haven’t completely given up on him.

“He hasn’t hurt us yet,� General Manager Theo Epstein said. “He’s working to find some consistency, and it’s never too late to find a groove and make a contribution. Strange things happen in the postseason -- Derek Lowe in 2004.

“Obviously, this guy has never really struggled since becoming a closer with the Dodgers early in his career, so this is new to him. But he’s really worked hard and hasn’t shrunk from the responsibility.�

Epstein on second baseman Dustin Pedroia, a rookie-of-the-year candidate who has brought fire and grit to the leadoff spot, not to mention a .317 batting average and .381 on-base percentage:

“He walks around like he’s an Adonis instead of 5-foot-6. That’s the way he looks at himself, and that’s what makes him good. He knows he’s going to rake no matter how good [the pitcher] is. That’s what he tells himself.�

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