Yanks keep Beckett winless since July 3

One night after Jon Lester got untracked for the Red Sox, Josh Beckett was hoping to do the same. The inconsistency of the two Boston pitchers has been a major reason the Red Sox have not been a factor in the American League East.

The Yankees had other ideas Sunday night at Yankee Stadium and ensured that Beckett would remain winless over his past six starts and a winner only once in his past 13 starts. The Yanks had a 4-1 lead when Beckett left the game after six innings.

Derek Jeter gave Beckett a particularly hard time of it with two doubles and a single. DJ has had success over the year against Beckett, batting .330 with four doubles and two home runs in 88 at-bats. Jeter led off the game with a double and scored on a two-out double by Curtis Granderson. Jeter doubled again in the third and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Beckett. The other two runs off Beckett were the result of solo home runs by Ichiro Suzuki, a .308 career hitter against Beckett in 39 at-bats.

Beckett’s last victory was July 3 at St. Petersburg, Fla. In six starts since then, he has pitched to a 6.94 ERA in 35 innings with four losses and two no-decisions. Over his past 13 starts, Beckett is 1-7 with a 5.77 ERA in 78 innings.