With two outs in the third inning, Josh Beckett seemed to be cruising. The Red Sox’ ace had struck out six batters in his three scoreless innings of work, and was one strike away from finishing a fourth.

Then he threw ball two to Brett Lawrie, and everything took a turn for the worst. Beckett took a step, shook his right foot, and before long was surrounded by Red Sox training and coaching staffs. He would leave the game.

The game remains tied as of now—Alfredo Aceves would induce a fly out to end the fourth—but right now all the attention is on Josh Beckett. If this is anything that could effect his performance in the playoffs, then the Sox—already expected to have John Lackey in their rotation come October—could be in serious trouble. The only clear options would be Andrew Miller and Tim Wakefield, neither of which would inspire any confidence in the least.