Red Sox RHP Beckett scratched from All-Star game

PHOENIX (AP) - Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was scratched from the All-Star game Tuesday night after feeling soreness in his left knee while warming up in the bullpen.

"I could have pitched. I'm just not comfortable going out there and getting hurt in an All-Star game and costing myself starts in the second half," Beckett said. "I think that's how everybody should be. This game does mean a lot with home-field advantage and everything but at the same time there are some things that are ahead that are a little more important."

The right-hander was scheduled to follow starter Jered Weaver in the second inning, but was pulled before going in to pitch. He was replaced by Yankees right-hander David Robertson.

Beckett pitched just five innings in his last start against Baltimore on Friday after he slightly hyperextended his knee on the wet mound at Fenway Park.

"It's kind of weird. I was warming up and didn't feel 100 percent," said Beckett, who is 8-3 with a 2.27 ERA in 17 starts for AL East-leading Boston. "It's not something I was comfortable with. I don't think I re-injured it but it still definitely has inflammation."

Beckett's absence hurt the AL, which already was missing Detroit's Justin Verlander, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, Tampa Bay's James Shields and Felix Hernandez of the Mariners because they started for their teams on Sunday.

"We had to make an adjustment, and that's exactly what the game is about," AL manager Ron Washington of the Texas Rangers said following the 5-1 loss. "But we were able to get some pitching out there, so we are not going to use not having Josh as an excuse."

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