Sox Punch Postseaon Ticket

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)





We're in! With their 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians Tuesday, the Red Sox assured themselves of the chance to defend their World Series title.

And to make the moment even sweeter, they eliminated the New York Yankees at the same time, ending the Yankees' consecutive season streak of making the playoffs at 13. Thanks to the Rays for helping to keep the Yankees down too.

As they have done all season, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis keyed the Red Sox attack.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 5, Indians 4

Youk got things started with a 2-run shot off likely AL Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee in the 4th.

After Tim Wakefield ran into some tough luck and let the lead slip away in the 5th, the Sox came right back to get three runs in the bottom of the inning dealing Lee just his third loss of the season.

Pedoria ripped the game-tying 2-run double off the wall and later scored the game-wining run on Jason Bay's seeing-eye single up the middle.

The bullpen held on from there as Hideki Okajima bailed Manny Delcarmen out of a bases-loaded jam in the 7th and Jonathan Papelbon came on to get out of another bases-loaded jam in the 8th to record four outs for his 41st save of the season.

Once Alex Cora squeezed the pop up for the final out, the celebration was on and as expected, Paps was at the center of it. He didn't do his trademark dance (he must be saving that for the World Series) but he was all over the place and actually ripped out the three bases and handed them to fans who stayed to see the celebration.

Once again the players and fans of Boston show why we're the best sports town in America and have the best fans. How cool would that be to get a base from the game from Paps?

There was more good news after the game as Josh Beckett revealed he's feeling great, Mike Lowell said he expects to be ready for the start of the postseason, and the team said J.D. Drew took batting practice and looked and felt great.

Let's hope this is more than just talk as the team really needs these guys to produce in the playoffs.

It will be interesting to see what the playoff roster looks like. We all love Wakefield, but I don't know if I can stomach watching him float that ball up there in the playoffs.

I'm a little concerned about Jed Lowrie too. He's really struggling at the plate, but hopefully he'll see what Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury did as rookies in the playoffs last season and will step it up. There was even a pig sighting after the game as Julio Lugo was spotted celebrating with the team. No matter how bad Lowrie is playing, there's no way they can turn back to the pig.