BOSTON (AFP) — The Boston Red Sox clinched home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs with a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins Saturday coupled with a loss for Cleveland.
One day after clinching the American League East division title, the Red Sox rested starters David Ortiz, Julio Lugo, Jason Varitek and Dustin Pedroia but still beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 at Fenway Park.
J.D. Drew, criticized as an underachiever this season after inking a five-year, 70 million-dollar contract last winter, had three hits, including a go-ahead, three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh.
The blast to right capped a four-run rally and lifted the Red Sox to their fourth win in the last five games.
The Red Sox entered the game knowing that they could clinch home field advantage throughout the American League playoffs and World Series with a win and a loss by Cleveland.
The AL Central champion Indians fell 4-3 to the Royals in Kansas City.
The Red Sox also earned the right to choose whether they will open their first-round playoff series against the Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday or Thursday.
Boston's Tim Wakefield pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and four runs, to match his career high of 17 wins set in 1998.
Twins starter Carlos Silva, who won his last two starts prior to Saturday, was denied a .500 finish to his season when reliever Nick Blackburn allowed four runs in the seventh.
Silva held Boston to two runs, scattering nine hits, striking out three and walking none.
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