Josh Beckett Returns to Mound With Two Gems, Earns Amica Pitcher of the Week Honors

The Red Sox finally have their workhorse back.

After more than two months on the disabled list with a lower back strain, Josh Beckett returned to the mound on July 23 and promptly led Boston to a win. The big right-hander showed he could hold his own in a pitcher's duel, allowing just five hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings while striking out five in the 2-1 win in Seattle.

It wasn't a perfect ending for Beckett, though, as he received a no-decision.

That changed five days later in Anaheim against the Angels. Tossing 112 pitches in seven innings, the righty allowed three earned runs and five hits and fanned five to pick up his first win since April 10. In his two starts since returning from the DL, Beckett has posted a 3.05 ERA, a stark improvement from the 7.29 ERA he logged in eight starts before the injury.

Beckett is back, and not a moment too soon for the battered Red Sox, which is why he has earned Amica Pitcher of the Week honors.

The Red Sox have endured losses to both the pitching staff and the lineup this season, and they’ve made it through the worst of the pitching injuries in relatively good shape. They sit 5 1/2 games back of the Rays, who lead the wild-card race, but Boston has its starting five together for the first time since May 19.

With an extremely well-rested Beckett already looking like his old self, the Red Sox have every reason to believe they'll be in the hunt at season's end.