Indians batter Red Sox ace

Associated Press

BOSTON

For Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox, getting jeered at Fenway Park has become par for the course.

The embattled starter did nothing to help restore his reputation Thursday night, getting booed off the field in the third inning of Boston’s 8-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

It was Boston’s 11th loss in its last 12 home games and it happened to come a day after word surfaced that Beckett was playing golf last week a day after he was scratched from his scheduled start with a sore lat muscle in his back.

That angered Red Sox fans, who got in plenty of taunts before Beckett was pulled after 21/3 innings with Cleveland leading 7-1.

“I think it was directed at me,” Beckett said. “Smart fans.”

Beckett was unrepentant about his golf outing, saying what he does on his day off is his business.

Jack Hannahan hit a two-run homer and Jason Kipnis had a solo shot off Beckett (2-4), who gave up seven runs on seven hits and walked two.

“You never want to get booed at your home stadium,” said Indians left fielder Johnny Damon, a former Red Sox star very familiar with being booed at Fenway Park. “He’s a great pitcher. Had a bad night. He helped bring another championship here, but as we all know that can get lost in time.”

Michael Brantley went 4 for 5 with two RBIs for the Indians.

Derek Lowe (5-1) pitched six effective innings against his former team, allowing two runs and nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts. He was as solid as he needed to be with the Indians’ offense taking full advantage of Beckett’s struggles.