OAKLAND – Josh Beckett just spoke about the six-game suspension that he received from Major League Baseball for his part in the bench-clearing incident that took place between the Red Sox and Angels on Monday. The pitcher confirmed that he is appealing the suspension.

When he heard around the punishment around 9 a.m., Beckett said that he was “shocked. The Sox ace said that two of the umpires on the crew on Sunday — home plate umpire Paul Schrieber and second-base umpire (and crew chief) Joe West — told him that he did the right thing in continuing with his delivery and throwing a pitch (which sailed over the head of Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu) after time was called. Schrieber, the home plate umpire who granted time to Abreu, repeated that message twice, according to the pitcher.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia suggested that Beckett’s reaction – when the pitcher approach home plate while yelling at Bobby Abreu, part of the “aggressive” behavior that MLB cited in the six-game suspension – was the source of the manager’s gripe with the umpires that ultimately led to his ejection on Sunday.

In response to that contention, Beckett responded, “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. Am I supposed to give (Abreu) a hug? I wasn’t really in a hugging mood.”

OTHER NOTES

–Shortstop Jed Lowrie was examined by three different doctors in Boston today. He will fly tomorrow to Baltimore to see Dr. Thomas Graham of the Curtis National Hand Center in hopes of determining precisely the cause of and solution to the recurrence of discomfort in his left wrist.

–Left fielder Jason Bay said his left wrist is fine after he rolled awkwardly on it while trying to make a catch on Monday. He’s back in the lineup in his customary sixth spot in the batting order.

–Shortstop Julio Lugo, in the Red Sox’ extended spring training camp in Fort Myers, will serve as designated hitter in an extended spring game on Wednesday, take Thursday off from games, then split his time as a designated hitter and shortstop from Friday through Sunday.  He will then fly up to Boston on Sunday to work out with Sox on Monday. If all goes well, Lugo will start a rehab assignment in Triple-A Pawtucket after that. Lugo underwent surgery on the torn meniscus in his right knee on March 17.

–Pitcher John Smoltz and outfielder Kotsay will be leaving the team on Wednesday to go to Fort Myers. Smoltz will face opposing hitters in a live batting  practice session on Saturday, commencing a schedule in which he will continue to throw live B.P. every five days. Kotsay will serve as D.H. in an extended spring training game on Friday.