Red Sox place Beckett on DL with lower back strain

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have placed Josh Beckett on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.

Manager Terry Francona said Wednesday he hoped the right-hander would miss just one start and that Tim Wakefield would pitch in his place Sunday at Philadelphia. Righty reliever Joe Nelson was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Beckett left Boston's 7-6 win Tuesday night at New York after a two-run double to Robinson Cano with two outs in the fifth. The Yankees played the game under protest after Beckett was replaced by Manny Delcarmen. Pitching coach John Farrell had signaled for Delcarmen before Francona and a trainer went to the mound.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Delcarmen shouldn't have been given all the time he needed to warm up.