Matsuzaka

BALTIMORE — Is Daisuke Matsuzaka this year’s version of Josh Beckett, circa 2006?

A year ago, Beckett stubbornly stuck to his hard stuff — fastballs, sliders — especially when he was in trouble, trying to power his way out of the jams.

All too often when catcher Jason Varitek wanted him to mix in changeups and curveballs, Beckett would shake off the Sox captain and try to throw harder and harder, a major reason he gave up a career-high 36 homers and finished the year with an un-ace-like 5.01 earned-run average, despite winning 16 games.

At one point in the season, when asked why he didn’t just insist that Beckett mix in his off-speed pitches more, Varitek said the pitcher has to throw a pitch with conviction. So, he said speaking in general terms, if the catcher puts down the sign for a curve and insists on it, and the pitcher doesn’t think it’s the right pitch to throw, he’s more likely to hang it and pay the price for a bad pitch.

This year Beckett has been mixing in all of his pitches, which is a major reason he is a prime candidate for Cy Young honors, boasting an 18-6 record and a 3.27 earned-run average.

And when he was asked this spring what advice he would give Matsuzaka, Beckett said he would tell the Japanese pitcher to listen to Varitek and trust the always well-prepared catcher’s pitch-calling abilities.

Matsuzaka hasn’t done that. In jams, Dice-K goes to his hard stuff, as he did to poor results Saturday night when he was shelled for seven runs in the third inning and eight in his 2 2/3-inning stint. The loss dropped his record to 14-12 and bloated his earned-run average to 4.44.

Maybe he could do that in Japan, where he was a star, costing the Sox a little more than $100 million in posting fees and salary. But, given his 9.57 earned-run average over his last five starts, maybe he needs to alter his approach to getting out of jams in this league.

“There are adjustment periods,” conceded manager Terry Francona, though adding that the Beckett-Matsuzaka comparison isn’t 100-percent dead-on.

“As much as we rely on (Dice-K) to win, and we have a lot of baseball left, I do think it will be easier for him next year when he comes back. That’s just human nature. I think he feels the responsibility to carry his share and when he goes through some rough times, we have to make sure we help him,” said Francona, also pointing out the cultural adjustments Dice-K has had to endure in his first season in this country.

Matsuzaka will get an extra day of rest before his next start, Friday night at Fenway Park in the opener of a three-game series against the Yankees.

Close call

Francona came very close to getting drilled with a line drive off the bat of Brian Roberts during the Baltimore second baseman’s 10-pitch battle with Beckett in the seventh. Francona had to move quickly to avoid the ball.

“That ball hit about six inches from where I was,” said Francona. “If I hadn’t moved, it would have hit my temple. And (Roberts) had the nerve to laugh. I was like, ‘Just make an out and get out of there.’ ”

Francona’s wish was granted. Roberts struck out.

Here and there

Manny Ramirez, who was permitted to go home to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday, was expected back at Fenway yesterday afternoon to work with trainer Scott Waugh. Ramirez has been out of action because of a strained oblique. … Reliever Eric Gagne (shoulder tendonitis) felt fine a day after his bullpen session. He could be available to pitch tonight at home against the Devil Rays of the Sox decide the situation warrants bringing him in for his first appearance since Aug. 26.

Around the bases

Varitek struck out in his first at-bat yesterday, making it five straight whiffs and six in seven at-bats over a three-game stretch. He snapped out of the funk with a single to right in the fourth. … Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to nine games since being recalled from Pawtucket on Sept. 1. … Beckett has given up at least one home run in each of his last four starts. The two he gave up yesterday inflated his season’s total to 14. … The Sox were lucky that a couple of bad slides didn’t disable two of their starters. Mike Lowell made a belated slide at first and was out on a high throw in the fifth, and Kevin Youkilis kind of slid and bounced at second base when he was safe in his stolen-base attempt in the sixth. There was no throw, which Youkilis realized too late to abort his slide, though he tried and landed awkwardly. Then, when Coco Crisp laid down an attempted sacrifice bunt, Youkilis didn’t slide into third, taking mincing steps as he neared the bag, and was out by an eyelash, blunting a budding rally.

skrasner@projo.com