Beckett pulled from start for stiff neck

Boston Red Sox's Josh Beckett follows through on a pitch against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2008, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

BOSTON—Josh Beckett was scratched from his start for the Boston Red Sox against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night because of a stiff neck.

David Pauley was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket and was to start against the Angels. To clear space on the roster, utilityman Joe Thurston was designated for assignment.

Beckett (2-1), the majors only 20-game winner last season, also missed the start of the season while he was on the disabled list with a strained lower back.

Beckett lost his season-opening start April 6 at Toronto, but beat the Yankees in his last two.

Like a number of Red Sox players, Beckett had been suffering from the flu within the past week. Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he was over his bout with the flu, but felt stiffness when he arrived at the Fenway Park.

"He'd been sick as a number of our players are, so we had taken some precautionary measures and pulled David Pauley from his start in Pawtucket in case something happened," Francona said. "Josh thought he was feeling well-enough to pitch as far as the sickness went, but then his neck got real stiff and we thought we were putting him in jeopardy by putting him out there."

It was unclear when he would make his next start.

"We just went through the idea that he wouldn't start tonight," Francona said. "We need to get more information and see how he feels. You just don't take a starter and back him up a day. We'll see what happens."

Beckett was unavailable for comment before the game.

Pauley was scheduled to make his first major-league start since 2006. He spent all of last season with Triple-A Pawtucket, going 6-6 with a 4.33 ERA. He was 1-1 with a 1.17 ERA before being recalled.

In 2006, Pauley went 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA in three starts with the Red Sox.

Beckett would have been facing the Angels for the first time since the teams met in last season's ALDS, when the right-hander dominated Los Angeles with complete-game, four-hit shutout in Game 1.

He went on to win his two starts in the league championship series against Cleveland, winning Game 5, to lead Boston's comeback from a 3-1 deficit before the Red Sox swept Colorado in win the World Series. Beckett won Game 1, holding the Rockies one run in seven innings.

Thurston played in four games, going 0-for-8.