BOSTON (AP) – The postseason is the lost season for Mike Mussina, even when he pitches well.

Mussina, winless in his last six postseason starts, struck out 10 in 6 2-3 innings Monday night. But it wasn’t enough for the New York Yankees, who lost 3-2 to the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the AL championship series.

New York’s hitting woes – and Mussina’s home run balls – helped Boston tie the best-of-seven series 2-2, with both Yankees losses coming when Mussina faced Tim Wakefield.

Mussina also was the losing pitcher in Minnesota’s only win in the division series in Game 1.

That’s quite a reversal for a star right-hander who was 17-8 this season, fourth in the AL with 195 strikeouts and eighth with a 3.40 ERA.

Although the Yankees backed him with just five hits Monday, Mussina hurt himself again by serving up two more homers.

In Wednesday’s opener, he allowed four runs on eight hits, including homers by David Ortiz, Todd Walker and Manny Ramirez, as the Red Sox won 5-2 at Yankee Stadium.

Mussina had much better command of his pitches this time, but two were slugged into the stands. Walker went deep in the fourth inning, and Trot Nixon connected in the fifth.

Mussina, who allowed six hits and two walks, left after allowing Boston’s third run in the sixth. He started the inning with his 10th strikeout, against Ortiz. But Kevin Millar walked and went to third on Nixon’s double. Bill Mueller was walked intentionally, and Jason Varitek came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded.

Mussina got Varitek to ground to shortstop, but he beat second baseman Alfonso Soriano’s throw to avoid the double play and allow Millar to score, making it 3-1.

That raised Mussina’s ERA to 4.98 in six playoff appearances since his last victory Oct. 18, 2001, in the ALCS at Seattle. He is 0-4 since in the postseason.

Monday’s loss came on the same mound where he pitched the best game of his career, just missing a perfect game by one strike. On Sept. 2, 2001, the Yankees led the Red Sox 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Carl Everett came in to pinch-hit and popped a short single to the outfield. On Monday, Mussina retired Boston’s first six batters, three on strikeouts. He gave up singles to Nixon and Doug Mirabelli in the third but ended the inning by fanning Johnny Damon.

Then came the homers in the fourth and fifth, and Mussina was headed for another disappointing playoff performance.

AP-ES-10-13-03 2326EDT