By JoeHaggerty
CSNNE.com
BRADENTON, Fla.Josh Beckett didnt leave the McKechnie Field mound Sunday afternoon feeling all warm and fuzzy.But there were plenty of things to like about the right-handers third start of spring training before it dropped into a vat of garbage in the fifth frame.Beckett is far removed from post-concussion symptoms and had cranked up enough arm strength to get on the mound for a fifth inning of work in the 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. And he flashed enough stuff to fan five Bucs hitters in the process of stretching out his prized right arm.There were plenty of complaints from Beckett and righty reliever Scott Atchison about the disparity in size between the bullpen mound and the game mound. Beckett nearly stumbled after his first pitch of the game to center fielder Jose Tabata, and spent a good minute cleaning off his spikes in a fit of pique behind the mound.But lets focus on the results rather than the excuses when it comes to Becketts afternoon.Beckett had impressive crackle and velocity on his mid-90s heat, caught several Pirates hitters chasing with the curveball that eluded him far too often last season, and gave another piece of mounting proof he will have plenty to offer once the regular season begins.I was feeling good and can specifically point to the middle three innings, said Beckett. I threw some good changeups today. I threw some good breaking balls behind in the count. The strength is good. I think Ive pretty much caught up from the post-concussion syndrome, or whatever you call it.For now, though, Beckett was simply happy to get up and down for five innings of spring work in the books. He took full responsibility for the solo home runs allowed, and felt badly for the mess left for Atchison in the fifth that contributed mightily to the lopsided score. Beckett was holding a 3-1 lead going into the fifth, and allowed a home run, walk, double and hit by pitch before he headed to the showers.The good thing about spring training: Beckett can drown his sorrows in shrimp and crab legs in Fort Myers on Sunday night and then be ready to push deeper into an exhibition game his next time out.I was a little behind myself out there in the fifth inning, said Beckett, who said the fifth-inning mess wasnt due to fatigue of any kind. Its a shame that a whole outing gets ruined by one inning. But thats the case here. I felt like I ruined it because I pitched well in the middle three innings.The first inning was getting used to the mound here. Theres a big difference between the bullpen mound and the game mound, and at least I had those middle innings to get my work in. Obviously the arm build-up is good, but the results in the fifth inning werent.Beckett now has three walks and nine strikeouts in 9 23 innings of spring work for the Sox that screams out vintage Sox ace, but hes also sporting a 6.51 ERA over those three starts.He seemed to have made peace with his work before the regulars van left for Fort Myers while the minor-leaguers were still playing out the string, and catcher Jason Varitek likewise saw nothing but positives with the stuff and the spirit in his first moments catching him this year. I thought he did good until the fifth inning, said Varitek. It was the first time Ive gotten to see him on the field. Hes just like everybody else. Taking steps, gaining innings and really building himself up. He had kind of a mix with sinkers, four-seamers and curveballs. It was kind of all of the above.The one thing Beckett might leave the start a little fired up about: surrendering a sharp single to right-center off the bat of Pirates pitcher Brad Lincoln in the third frame. For a combustible personality like Beckett, its just the kind of ammunition he will store and utilize as he continues through the at-times monotonous tenor of spring training before a pivotal season in his All-Star career.There were just enough flashes against the Pirates on Sunday afternoon to believe that hes well on his way.
Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com.Follow Joe on Twitter at http:twitter.comHackswithHaggs