We’ve heard it over and over since the Dodgers blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox – “Josh Beckett has a bad attitude.” Well guess what Boston fans, perhaps it was you who brought out the worst in Beckett because he has been nothing but the consummate team player since his arrival in Los Angeles last August.

After allowing a leadoff walk in Friday night’s game over the Brewers, Beckett retired the next eleven batters he faced. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

During his fifth start of the season on Friday night, the two-time former World Champion and 2003 World Series MVP allowed two more home runs, bringing his season total to a team-leading eight home runs allowed (Kershaw and Ryu are next with three each). What does Beckett have to say about all of the bombs he has given up?

“I’ll give up 40 more if we win all the games.”

Sounds like a team player to me.

Aside from one mistake pitch to Brewers third baseman Yuniesky Betancourt that landed in the Left Field Pavilion in the 5th inning, Beckett’s cut fastball was the best it has been all season. In fact, he was hitting 93 and occasionally 94 throughout his 5.1 innings of work. And even though the home runs to Betancourt and to Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun were both fastballs, the home run that Braun hit to right field in the 4th inning was actually a pretty good pitch. It started towards the outer half of the plate, but caught too much of the plate and was a little too high for the extremely powerful Braun.

“The two home runs I gave up were both fastballs,” said Beckett after the game. “Both of them came right back to the middle of the plate. I tried to go away. I think I had decent control, I just need to keep those balls down a little bit.”

The pitch that Ryan Braun hit for his 7th home run of the season was on the outer half of the plate but was up in the zone, and Braun doesn’t miss too many of those. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

On the night Beckett allowed 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 5 and walking 2. And though he didn’t figure in the decision of the eventual 7-5 win over the Brewers, it was yet another quality start for the Spring, Texas native who turns 33 next month.