AJ Burnett/Josh Beckett Provides Best Pitching Matchup of The Weekend

After a brutal four-hour opener that included an astounding 18 walks between the two teams, fans should be treated to a much better pitching matchup in Game 2 of this weekend's Red Sox/Yankees series. Former Florida Marlins teammates A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.89) and Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27) take the hill for their respective clubs Friday night as New York attempts to capture the first two in this four-game set. Beckett is 9-4 in 15 career starts against the Bombers but that record is more thanks to run support rather than good pitching. The right-hander has racked up a 5.42 ERA against New York. This will be Beckett's fourth start this season versus the Pinstripes. He was lit up for eight runs in five innings back on April 25, earned a victory with a mediocre 10-hit, three-run, six-inning effort on May 5 and then pitched a one-hit shutout through six on June 9 for the win. Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano each had a couple of hits on Thursday night and they ...