Red Sox Clinch Playoff Berth

Tuesday, September 23, 2008– The Boston Red Sox had their destiny in their hands…and a pretty easy destiny it was at that. All they had to do was win one game out of the remaining six, and they’d clinch a playoff berth.

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They took care of business tonight, defeating the Cleveland Indians 5 - 4.

They have two more games with the Indians, and then three with the New York Yankees (who were eliminated today from playoff contention) to round out the season.

They still have a chance, albeit remotely, to take the division lead away from the Tampa Bay Rays, if the Rays collapse in their remaining games.

As for Tuesday, the Red Sox had to come from behind to get the victory.

Boston went ahead first, scoring two runs in the fourth inning off of 22-game winner Cliff Lee, both on a homerun by Kevin Youkilis.

But the Indians roared back in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs off Tim Wakefield to take a 4-2 lead.

Their joy was short-lived, however, as the Red Sox mounted a comeback in their half of the fifth. Coco Crisp reached on a fielder’s choice, and with one out, Jacoby Ellsbury got his only hit of the night, a double. Then, Dustin Pedroia, with a double of his own (that tied him with Tris Speaker for as owner of the 3rd most doubles hit by a Red Sox in a season), plated both of them.

That’s all the runs that the Red Sox got, but that’s all they needed. Relievers Manny Delcarmen, Justin Masterson, Javier Lopez, and finally Jonathan Papelbon shut the Indians down for the win.