BOSTON: The Boston Red Sox were unable to clinch a post-season berth when they lost 4-3 to the streaking Cleveland Indians on Monday, the defeat also dropping them 2 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
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Cleveland Indian's Shin-Soo choo of South Korea plays against the Boston Red Sox on Monday. [Agencies]
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The Indians won their seventh straight game behind six solid innings from rookie starter Zach Jackson and stopped the defending World Series champion from securing a fifth post-season berth in the past six seasons.
"We've been keeping the focus on ourselves," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge told reporters. "We just want to finish strong and have a good feeling about how this season ended."
The Indians blew a 3-1 lead to the Red Sox in the AL Championship Series last year and have struggled most of this season.
However, the Tribe improved to 79-77 with the victory and have the second best record in the AL since July 10.
Despite the loss, Boston retain a six-game lead on the New York Yankees with six games remaining for both teams in the wild card race.
One more Red Sox win or a New York loss will give Boston a playoff berth but the surprising Rays now have a firmer grip on the division title after they beat the Orioles 4-2 in Baltimore.
Akinori Iwamura singled in two runs in the fifth, and Bartlett's pivotal double off Rocky Cherry (0-3) followed an error by second baseman Brian Roberts and a walk to Eric Hinske.
The Rays, who are already assured a playoff berth, lowered their magic number to four as they bid for a first division title.
The Indians scored three runs in the fifth inning off Boston starter and loser Josh Beckett (12-10) to break a 1-1 tie and their bullpen held on for the win after Jackson departed.
Beckett allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings with six strikeouts and one walk, but hit a career-high three batters.
"We're just trying to win games," Beckett said. "We're not worried about clinching a playoff spot."
Jackson (1-3) gave up two runs on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks in his six innings to record a first win of the season.
At Detroit, David DeJesus went 4-for-4 and Mike Aviles drove in two runs to lead Kansas City past Detroit 6-2.
The Tigers were minus suspended slugger Gary Sheffield, then lost star Miguel Cabrera in the third inning because of a tight back. Cabrera was listed as day to day.
Detroit has lost 10 of 11, and is only one game ahead of last-place Kansas City in the AL Central. Sheffield was suspended four games earlier in the day for brawling with Cleveland pitcher Fausto Carmona last week.
Gil Meche (13-11) won for the third time in four starts, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings. Zach Miner (8-5) took the loss, giving up four runs in six-plus innings.
