August 29, 2008 Francona: Beckett tests 'awesome'; should pitch next week Play video

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - In a month that has been filled with injuries, Terry Francona got a chance to smile.

Francona said that tests on Josh Beckett's shoulder came back 'awesome' on Friday, clearning the way for Beckett to return to pitching staff sooner rather than later. "In a fair scenario, he pitches the first game in Texas (next Friday)," Francona said in this afternoon news conference before Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway.

Beckett had been slated to pitch the game, but the team decided to pull him from the start and run additional tests in part to "give him peace of mind."

Francona said he wasn't overly concerned about the tests, because he felt Beckett threw well in a side session earler this week, but the tests were done as a precaution.

"There was some inflammation in there. We talked about the tingling and the numbness - that has subsided," Francona said, "I don't want to get too deep, because I am probably not supposed to, but everything came out completely structurally sound."