'Shooter' Beck back as ace reliever

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- It's the ninth inning and the San Diego Padres need a save. "Hells Bells" no longer rings out, the heavy metal song silenced because Trevor Hoffman is hurt.
But wait -- here comes an experienced closer trotting out of the bullpen, a barrel-chested veteran with a Fu Manchu mustache and 272 career saves. "Shooter" is on his way to the mound and everything's going to be OK.
Rod Beck is back in the big leagues and pitching well.
Once one of baseball's premier closers, he still swings his right arm a few times as he stares in at the batter. He pumps a fist or throws his arms skyward with every save.
Out of baseball last year while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, Beck is inspired by his two daughters and invigorated from having started this season in Triple-A.
"Even if it was Triple-A ball, I had a blast out there," Beck said. "I got out there on the field and threw the ball around and I realized that I ain't no old sucker.
"Everybody thinks I'm 45 years old, but I feel good," said Beck, who turns 35 on Aug. 3. "What else is there? I mean, this is it."
Beck became a dominating closer with San Francisco in the early 1990s, then saved 51 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1998, helping them clinch a wildcard playoff berth.
He blew out his right elbow in 2001 while with Boston. There were only six days left in the season and he was a free agent, so he thought about retiring.
Prodded by his daughters, who are 8 and 9, and motivated to get 300 saves, Beck decided to come back.