Monday, September 22 2008 -- Monday, September 22, 2008 -- The Boston Red Sox had a chance to clinch their attendance in the post season on Monday, but failed when they lost to the Cleveland Indians.

The Red Sox had a chance to tie the game, but a game-running gaffe by Jason Bay in the 6th inning, when Jeff Bailey reached on an infield single. If Bay had run on contact, he could have scored, as the ball bounced off the empire and into short left field.

But he got hung up in no-man's land by indecision, ran too far home, then too far to get back to third. Presumably coach Francona will have words with either Bay or with the third base coach who should have given Bay better direction.

The Indians struck first against Josh Becket in the second inning, when he walked in the first run.

Youkilis tied the game in the third, when he doubled home Jacoby Ellsbury.

But in the fifth inning, Beckett had a meltdown, giving up three singles and a double which led to three runs.

In the bottom half of the inning, David Ortiz hit a home run.

Then, in the seventh inning, Ellsbury reached base again, and Youkilis doubled him home again, but that was all the scoring the Red Sox were able to do, despite the fact that they had their chances.

Indeed, in the ninth inning, there were men on second and third when Jeff Lowrie struck out to end the game.