We keep waiting for Josh Beckett to redeem himself, to do something to show us that, even if he’s not the ace he once was, he’s still a solid gamer who can help a team into the postseason.

Josh Beckett (Amanda Laws)

What we’ve gotten instead is a moody, sour individual who just can’t be depended on to do more than put the ball on a tee for the other team and then complain about how he doesn’t get enough days off to justify his insane salary.  Yesterday, he gave up eight runs and eight hits in a little over five innings.  He has a first-inning ERA of over 10.00 (Texas scored three in the first yesterday).  And the sad thing is, that doesn’t even raise eyebrows at this point.

With yesterday’s 10-9 loss, the Sox let yet another series slip away – this time to the Texas Rangers.  With the loss, the Sox can take a little hope in the future of their offense (Will Middlebrooks and his clutch home run, anyone?), but are watching the nail get hammered into the 2012 coffin.  With the loss, the Sox end their homestand 4-6, and now have to go on the road for ten games – first against struggling Cleveland, but then against Baltimore and New York – two teams that, yes, even Baltimore, are higher in the standings.

The bottom of the seventh inning gave the fans at Fenway something to cheer about – down four runs, the Sox tied the game on a Dustin Pedroia single, an Adrian Gonzalez RBI double, a Cody Ross walk, and then an awesome Middlebrooks home run.  But Adrian Beltre gave the Rangers the lead again via a sac fly off of Alfredo Aceves in the top of the ninth, and that sealed the deal.

Here’s a link to the box score, courtesy of the Red Sox.  Boston will travel to Cleveland to take on the Indians in a 7:05 start.  Felix Doubront (10-5, 4.56) will face Ubaldo Jimenez (8-11, 5.29 ERA).