beckett

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Josh Beckett had only thrown a few warmup pitches yesterday afternoon when he signaled to the dugout in the bottom of the first inning. Manager Terry Francona thought Beckett was calling for a resin bag.

Instead, Beckett was summoning Francona and the training staff. After a brief mound consultation, Beckett walked off the mound and headed for the dugout, creating an ominous buzz inside City of Palms Park and a feeling of anxiety for Francona.

According to Francona, Beckett had been complaining of some stiffness in his back over the last week and aggravated the condition when some mound dirt “gave way” on one of his first warmup tosses, resulting in back spasms.

The decision to remove him from his scheduled start against the Florida Marlins before a pitch was thrown to a hitter — and replace him with Manny Delcarmen — was an easy one.

“There was no reason to ask him to pitch this game,” said Francona. “If Beckett throws a pitch and injures his arm because he’s favoring his back, we wouldn’t be able to live with ourselves.”

Beckett was unavailable to reporters, but told a Red Sox spokesman: “We’ll just wait and see how it feels (today).”

He was examined by the medical staff and underwent some unspecified treatment. He will be looked at again today. It was unclear whether Beckett had undergone an x-ray or an MRI yesterday.

“He was just moving around like he was stiff,” second baseman Dustin Pedroia noted, “or something was bothering him. We’ve got a couple of weeks (for Beckett to get healthy), and hopefully this isn’t an issue because, obviously, if he’s hurt, it’s a huge loss for us. … You don’t want anybody to get hurt in spring training, especially your ace.”

Trimming begins

The Sox made 10 cuts before the regular game, leaving them with 46 players in camp.

Optioned to Double-A Portland were pitcher Kyle Jackson and shortstop Argenis Diaz. Optioned to Pawtucket were pitchers Edgar Martinez and David Pauley.

Nonroster players returned to minor- league camp were: pitcher Michael Bowden, Hunter Jones and Justin Masterson and infielders Jeff Bailey, Tony Grandillo and Gil Velazquez

The Sox will be allowed to travel with 30 players to Tokyo on March 19, leaving them 10 more days to trim an additional 16 players from their major-league camp.

All eyes on Murton

Minor league games begin this week, and the Sox wanted their pitchers to build up their respective pitch counts, something not feasible with all the other pitchers still in camp.

Though they already have one more outfielder than they need on the roster, the Sox are keeping a watchful eye on former Sox prospect Matt Murton this spring.

Murton, who was sent to the Chicago Cubs — along with Nomar Garciaparra — in the famous four-team deal the Sox made on July 31, 2004, intrigues the Sox as a left-handed hitting fourth outfielder.

The club inquired about Murton’s availability at the trade deadline last summer. It’s possible that Murton could return to the Sox as part of a package for Coco Crisp, in whom the Cubs have some interest.

In the morning camp game, one group of minor league prospects — known as “Boston” — beat another, known as “Red Sox,” 5-2.

Chris Carter had two hits and an RBI for the winning team while Jonathan Van Every added a two-run single.

Lars Anderson, perhaps the organization’s best position player prospect, played first base for the losing team and gave Francona the first chance to watch Anderson since the day the former California high school standout took batting practice with the Sox in Oakland two years ago.

Consistency needed

Craig Hansen was touched for the first two runs of the afternoon in the fifth inning, helping the Florida Marlins to a 5-2 win over the Red Sox, who dropped to 3-7. In an inning and two-thirds, Hansen was tagged for two runs on three hits while walking two and striking out two. His spring line to date: 3 2/3 innings, five hits allowed, six runs, six walks and a 14.73 ERA. “He’s getting himself into more trouble than he needs to,” said Francona. “He’s throwing the ball well and he’s strong, but there needs to be more consistency.”

smcadam@projo.com