Game One Pitcching Matchup

By Mike Spain
Associated Content

On Wednesday, October 24, both the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox will be starting their best starting pitchers. The Colorado Rockies will start their ace left hander Jeff Francis. Francis will be starting with 12 days of rest since his last start. The Boston Red Sox will counter with their ace right hander Josh Beckett. Beckett will be pitching on five days of rest.

The two teams met in June for three games this season in Boston, as part of interleague play. The Colorado Rockies won two of three games from the Boston Red Sox during the three game series. Jeff Francis faced Josh Beckett in the third game of that series. The Rockies and Jeff Francis won 7-1. Francis gave up 0 runs in five innings. Beckett lost for the first time in the season giving up 6 runs in five innings. This time the stakes are higher as both teams try to win game one of the 2007 World Series.

Jeff Francis went 17-9 with a 4.22 earned run average (ERA) during the regular season. He led the Rockies with wins, number of starts, and innings pitched. Francis is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in the playoffs helping the Colorado Rockies earn their first National League Pennant.

Josh Beckett was 20-7 with a 3.27 ERA for the Boston Red Sox. In the playoffs this season, Beckett is 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA. He earned the American League Championship Series MVP award. Beckett has been to the World Series before and had success. In 2003 Josh Beckett was the World Series MVP.