Or consider the hard-edged Beckett. For the third consecutive postseason start, Beckett did not make it past the fifth. The difference this time was that Beckett found a way to compensate for what a strained-oblique injury has taken from him and win.

In his previous two starts, against the Los Angeles Angels in the ALDS and the Rays in the second game of the ALCS, Beckett allowed 18 hits and 12 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings. He gave up three leads against the Rays.

This time, Beckett held the Rays to two runs, on homers, and only one at-bat with a runner in scoring position. He did it with more breaking and off-speed pitches than usual and a large supply of grit.

"You can't say enough about (Beckett's) competitive spirit," Boston pitching coach John Farrell said. "He got it handed to him the last two starts, but that's part of his experience in the postseason. He doesn't make too much of the situation."

Beckett did make better pitches than in his previous two starts. In Game 2, the Rays missed on only four of their 40 swings against Beckett. In the rematch, they missed on five of 34 swings. He threw nearly as many curveballs (28) as fastballs.

"Josh really had to be deliberate and stay within himself," Varitek said. "He has had to make some adjustments. He's not pitching with a 97 (mph) fastball. But he knows how to pitch."

Francona was careful not to overextend Beckett. The Red Sox bullpen prepared as Beckett started each of his final two innings. Five innings was more than enough for the Red Sox.

Beckett's performance inspirited rotation-mate Jon Lester, who is scheduled to start tonight. A year ago, Lester started and won the World Series clincher against Colorado. Like most of the Red Sox, this is familiar ground for Lester. The same cannot be said of the upstart Rays.

For Tampa Bay, which was seven outs from the World Series on Thursday night, this is "a great learning experience," manager Joe Maddon said. "For us to win that (seventh) game would be something special, also."

For Boston, this is been-here, done-that business as usual. "Absolutely," catcher Jason Varitek said. "We'll continue to maintain our focus the way we always have."