(My Sportsbook) - Mike Mussina tries to win 20 games for the first time in his 18-year career this afternoon, as the New York Yankees conclude a disappointing season with a day/night doubleheader against the playoff-bound Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Today's double dip was made necessary when Saturday's scheduled contest was postponed due to rain.

The 39-year-old Mussina has won 19 on two other occasions while pitching for the Baltimore Orioles in 1995 and 1996. He topped the 18-win mark for the first time with the Yankee on Tuesday against Toronto, tossing five scoreless innings to run his record to 19-9, while lowering his earned run average to 3.47.

Mussina has struggled against the Red Sox this season, going 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA in four starts. He is also winless in his last eight starts at Fenway, but is 20-17 lifetime against Boston with a 3.71 ERA in 56 starts.

Opposing Mussina will be Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, as he tries to win his eighth straight decision. Matsuzaka defeated the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, as he scattered two hits over seven scoreless innings to run his record to 18-2, while lowering his earned run average to 2.80.

Matsuzaka beat the Yankees back on April 13 and is 3-1 lifetime against them with a 6.30 ERA in five starts.

Going for the Yanks in the nightcap will be righty Sidney Ponson, who is 8-5 with a 5.21 ERA. Ponson hasn't started since September 13 when the Tampa Bay Rays ripped him for four runs and six hits in just 3 1/3 innings. His offense bailed him out of that one, though, as he did not factor in the decision of his team's 6-5 win.

Ponson, who is 4-4 in 15 games (14 starts) with the Yankees, has struggled mightily in his career against the Red Sox, posting a miserable 3-13 ledger with a 6.95 ERA in 22 starts.

Countering for Boston in game two will be knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has won two of his last three starts. Wakefield defeated the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, surrendering four runs and six hits in six innings to run his record to 10-11 to go along with a 4.24 ERA.

Wakefield has faced the Yankees 48 times (31 starts) and is 10-17 against them with a save and a 5.14 ERA.

In the opener of this set on Friday, Cody Ransom belted a pair of homers to highlight a 20-hit attack as New York routed Boston, 19-8, in a rain-soaked affair.

The loss eliminated the Red Sox from the AL East race, giving Tampa Bay its first division title in franchise history.

Boston is in the postseason, however, already clinching the AL wild card berth. The Red Sox will travel to Anaheim to open the playoffs against the LA Angels next week.

Ransom, who entered the game in the third inning for an injured Derek Jeter, finished 3-for-3 and scored three runs for the Yankees, who have won eight of their past nine games but had their run of 13-straight playoff appearances dashed earlier in the week.

Two more wins, though, and the Yankees will have their eighth straight 90-win season.

Alfredo Aceves started on the hill and allowed four runs on five hits in four innings. David Robertson (4-0) won it after throwing two innings of scoreless relief.

David Pauley (0-1) started on the hill when Boston erred on the side of caution and scratched star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka after a 91-minute rain delay at the outset of the game. Pauley struggled mightily, surrendering seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits in just 2 2/3 innings.

Boston has split its 16 matchups with the Yankees this season.