Sunday night, Yankees play Boston in the third of a three-game series at Fenway, tied at one a piece. Josh Beckett is starting for the Red Sox. For the Yankees, Andy Petite who has been pitching well. In his last start he was able to go 7.1 innings in a 3-2 loss to Toronto. He is their most solid starter.
However, bettors get nostalgic for the sure thing when the Yankees never let you down, no matter how cold you were. Bettors have to accept this is not the same team as in past years. First of all, New York’s bullpen stinks. Mariano isn’t even that good anymore.
Cano and Melki are hot, Jeter had a big hit the other night, and Matsui is dangerous. But Posada has cooled down, Abreu sucks, and A-Rod hasn’t done much in this series. Giambi may be out for the season and Johnny Damon has leg problems and is DH’ing tonight. So it comes down to Petite. For New York to win, Petite would need to pitch 8 innings.
Meanwhile, everyone on the Red Sox is hot. Left-handers get knocked around at Fenway, with the Green Monster and a short porch in right field. However, to his credit, Petite has a 2.45 ERA and 1.58 WHIP at Fenway this year; since 1987, he has a 2.92 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, which is Solid. His numbers against the top Red Sox hitters are cause concern if you’re a Yankee bettor. This year and since 1987, David Ortiz is hitting .111 and .323, respectively, against Petite; Manny is batting .375 this year and .418 since 1987; Lowell is .375 and .333; Varitek is .250 and .341; Youkalis has only seen him this year and is hitting .571 against the Yankees ace.
The issue of Beckett’s finger, which caused him to miss two starts, was defused when he came off the DL May 29 against Cleveland:
“Beckett went on the disabled list with a torn flap of skin on his right middle finger. He returned Tuesday and pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, facing the minimum number of batters in the first six innings before allowing two seventh-inning runs. Beckett struck out seven and walked one to become the first Red Sox starter to win his first eight decisions since Roger Clemens opened the 1986 season 14-0.”
It’s hard to say the finger will be a problem for Beckett and Boston. The Yankees continue to struggle. Winning this series would give them confidence, but it’s not going to happen.

outcome: Yankees 5 Red Sox 4