The conversation was brief.

Josh Beckett's undoing was even swifter.

With runners on the corners and two out in the seventh inning of a tie game last night, and with Beckett's pitch count at 108, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine visited the mound, a decision hanging in the balance.

Stick with Beckett or turn to the bullpen?

Evidently, Beckett made a convincing argument, even if he barely made eye contact with Valentine. Beckett stayed in the game, then uncorked a wild pitch two pitches later, allowing Elvis Andrus to speed home with the go-ahead run for the Texas Rangers.