Red Sox' Beckett Is a Go for Game 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. Oct. 3 -- Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett, whose status has been in doubt because of an oblique strain, will start Sunday's Game 3 at Fenway Park. Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said on Friday that Beckett felt fine one day after an extended bullpen session, giving the right-hander the green light to make his first playoff start of 2008.

"He's ready to go," Francona said.

The manager said that Beckett was healthy enough to consider pitching in Game 2, though he decided against it for fear of disrupting his typical routine leading up to starts.

"We tried to be a little bit patient, which is not easy," Francona said.

Beckett has a 1.73 ERA in 10 career postseason games. He has been even better in division series play, allowing just one run in 16 innings (0.56 ERA) over two career starts.

Since 2003, when Beckett led the Florida Marlins to a World Series title, Beckett's .159 opponents batting average is the lowest among pitchers who have thrown at least 40 postseason innings.

Lowell Gets Night Off

Despite a painful hip injury that has made it difficult to run, third baseman Mike Lowell said he entered the postseason with the intent to play in every game.

"I don't think I'd put myself in a position to play [just] one game," Lowell said after workouts on Thursday. "I don't think that's the way to do it. I'm looking to play the whole postseason and be there every game. I don't think that's special. I don't think I'm doing anything different."

But Francona benched the hobbled Lowell on Friday, which would give the third baseman two days off before Sunday's Game 3 at Fenway Park, when former West Springfield and Virginia Tech lefty Joe Saunders is scheduled to pitch for the Los Angeles Angels.

"There are some other things to think about besides just tonight," Francona said before Friday's Game 2. "I think he wanted to play. It would be a shock for him not to. But, again, sometimes some decisions are harder than others."

Francona has good reason to save Lowell, who has hit .318 off lefties this season compared with .263 against right-handers. And though Lowell is just 3 for 14 against Saunders in his career, Lowell hit .533 off lefties in September.

Peña Is a Late Scratch

Tampa Bay's Carlos Peña was scratched from the lineup for Game 2 of the Rays' first-round playoff series against the Chicago White Sox because of slightly blurred vision in his left eye.

The slugger, who led the AL East champions with 31 homers and 102 RBI this season, scratched his cornea at home Wednesday and was removed from Game 1 of the series after two innings on Thursday.

Peña fielded grounders and took batting practice Friday. Less than an hour before game time the Rays announced he would not be in the lineup.

"Still a little blurry, but a lot better than yesterday," Peña said before batting practice.

Willy Aybar replaced Peña at first base and batted fifth, with Carl Crawford moving up two spots into Peña's customary No. 3 hole.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.