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Beckett goes for win No. 13 in series finale

Jul 15, 2007 - 2:33 PM Toronto (44-46) at Boston (55-35), 2:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Josh Beckett takes the mound in search of his major league-leading 13th win on Sunday when the Boston Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a four-game series.

With fellow 12-game winner C.C. Sabathia of the Cleveland Indians getting knocked around by the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Beckett has a chance to move into sole possession of the lead with a win over the Blue Jays.

The 27-year-old ace earned a win over Toronto on May 8, allowing one run and five hits over seven frames and striking out five.

Beckett also took the win on Tuesday at the All-Star Game, tossing a pair of scoreless frames of relief in the American League's 5-4 victory over the National League. Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless eighth in the game as well.

The Blue Jays will counter with rookie Jesse Litsch, who is on his second tour of duty with the club this season. The 22-year-old righthander made a splash in his major league-debut, yielding one run and four hits over 8 2/3 innings to earn a win against Baltimore on May 15.

The league seemed to catch up with the youngster after that, pounding him for 12 runs in a total of nine innings over his next three starts before being sent back down to the minors.

Litsch was recalled on July 3 and performed well in a losing effort, surrendering two runs - none earned - and seven hits over seven frames at Oakland.

He will have to contend with a Boston lineup that pounded out three homers en route to a 9-4 win on Saturday.