GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: OAKLAND (75-83) at BOSTON (93-64)

Lowell, Red Sox close in on AL East title

<h3>BOSTON 11, OAKLAND 6</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Thanks to Mike Lowell, the Boston Red Soxhave a stranglehold on first place.


Lowell continued his stellar season, driving in five runs as theRed Sox inched closer to their first American League East titlein more than a decade with an 11-6 victory over the OaklandAthletics on Wednesday night.


Dustin Pedroia homered for Boston (94-64), which reduced itsmagic number for clinching the division title to two. The RedSox lead the New York Yankees (90-67) by 3 1/2 games in the ALEast with just four games to play.


The Yankees faced the Tampa Bay Devil Rays later Wednesdaynight.


It has been a huge year for Lowell, who would be a legitimate ALMVP candidate if it weren't for the astronomical numbers postedby Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Detroit Tigersright fielder Magglio Ordonez.


On Wednesday, Lowell set a club record for RBI by a thirdbaseman with 116, passing former Boston manager and infielderButch Hobson, who knocked in 112 runs in 1977.


Pedroia homered off Jerry Blevins (0-1) to lead off the decisivefour-run sixth inning, and Lowell then lined a two-run singleto make it 8-5. Rookie Jacoby Ellsbury capped the scoring inthe inning with an RBI groundout.


That provided enough support for six Boston pitchers, includingMike Timlin (2-1), who pitched 1 1/3 innings to pick up the win.Eric Gagne and Julian Tavarez hurled the final two frames tofinish out the game.


Red Sox starter Jon Lester allowed five runs and seven hits in 41/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked three.

After Nick Swisher's sacrifice fly in the third started thescoring for the Athletics, the Red Sox answered back with threeruns in the bottom of the frame. Lowell ripped a two-run singleand J.D. Drew added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

But Oakland regained the lead in the fourth thanks to DonnieMurphy, who belted a three-run homer off Lester to give his teama one-run advantage.


Manny Ramirez, who was playing his second game since August 28,delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to tie thegame at 4-4. Lowell followed with a run-scoring hit of his ownto give Boston a short-lived one-run lead.


Mike Piazza tied the game with towering homer to left field totie the game at 5-5 for Oakland, which has lost three in a row.

 

Lowell, Red Sox close in on AL East title

<h3>BOSTON 11, OAKLAND 6</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Thanks to Mike Lowell, the Boston Red Soxhave a stranglehold on first place.


Lowell continued his stellar season, driving in five runs as theRed Sox inched closer to their first American League East titlein more than a decade with an 11-6 victory over the OaklandAthletics on Wednesday night.


Dustin Pedroia homered for Boston (94-64), which reduced itsmagic number for clinching the division title to two. The RedSox lead the New York Yankees (91-67) by three games in the ALEast with just four games to play.


The Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 12-4, on Wednesday toclinch a playoff spot.


"When we clinched in Tampa, we didn't want to get too far aheadof ourselves," reliever Mike Timlin said. "It's not that we aregoing to overdo it when we clinch, but I'm sure we'll let alittle bit out."


It has been a huge year for Lowell, who would be a legitimate ALMVP candidate if it weren't for the astronomical numbers postedby Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Detroit Tigersright fielder Magglio Ordonez.


On Wednesday, Lowell set a club record for RBI by a thirdbaseman with 116, passing former Boston manager and infielderButch Hobson, who knocked in 112 runs in 1977.


"I take a lot of pride in (this record)," Lowell said. "I justdidn't know about it. But it's kind of special when you thrownames like Wade Boggs out there with all he did.


"And there's been a lot of very good players that have playedthird base for this organization. So to have the most runsdriven in is a very satisfying thing, and it's something thatI'll treasure."


Pedroia homered off Jerry Blevins (0-1) to lead off the decisivefour-run sixth inning, and Lowell then lined a two-run singleto make it 8-5. Rookie Jacoby Ellsbury capped the scoring inthe inning with an RBI groundout.


That provided enough support for six Boston pitchers, includingTimlin (2-1), who pitched 1 1/3 innings to pick up the win. EricGagne and Julian Tavarez hurled the final two frames to finishout the game.


After the contest, teammates were happy to push the focus on theAll-Star third baseman.


"(Lowell's) been great all year," Pedroia said. "We've countedon him a lot, especially after Manny (Ramirez) got hurt. And hestepped up."


Red Sox starter Jon Lester allowed five runs and seven hits in 41/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked three.

"He's still a young pitcher that is developing," manager TerryFrancona said. "He can work himself into some binds but hisstuff is good."


After Nick Swisher's sacrifice fly in the third started thescoring for the Athletics, the Red Sox answered back with threeruns in the bottom of the frame. Lowell ripped a two-run singleand J.D. Drew added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

But Oakland regained the lead in the fourth thanks to DonnieMurphy, who belted a three-run homer off Lester to give his teama one-run advantage.


"I felt great tonight," Lester said despite the short outing."The problem was the same as all season - two-out walks or walksin general. They're just killing me every start.


"It got better but it's one of those deals tonight, I got myselfin a bad situation and couldn't get out of it."


Ramirez, who was playing his second game since August 28,delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to tie thegame at 4-4. Lowell followed with a run-scoring hit of his ownto give Boston a short-lived one-run lead.


Mike Piazza tied the game with towering homer to left field totie the game at 5-5 for Oakland, which has lost three in a row.