AL: MINNESOTA (77-81) at BOSTON (94-64) <h3>Red Sox look to trim magic number against Twins</h3> Minnesota (78-81) at Boston (94-65), 7:05 pm EDT BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox squandered an opportunityto trim their magic number to clinch the American League East toone in the series opener. They'll give it another try onFriday when they host the Minnesota Twins. The Twins knocked Red Sox ace Josh Beckett around for five runsand 10 his in six innings, and closer Joe Nathan worked out of abases loaded jam in the ninth to lock down a 5-4 victory in theopener on Thursday. Boston's lead in the AL East is now down to two games over theNew York Yankees (92-67), who finish their season with athree-game series at lowly Baltimore over the weekend. Should the bitter rivals end the season with the same record,the Yankees would win the division based on a 10-8 advantage inthe season series. Daisuke Matsuzaka (14-12, 4.48 ERA) will take his final regularseason turn in the rotation for the Red Sox. The Japaneserighthander has been terrible since the middle of August, going1-4 with an 8.15 ERA in his last seven starts. The 27-year-old rookie pitched in a six-man rotation during135-game seasons in Japan, and he seems to have hit a wallduring the longer major league campaign. His outing on Fridaycould determine his status in the team's rotation during theplayoffs. The Twins will counter with rookie Kevin Slowey (4-0, 4.57). The23-year-old righthander has been sharp in his last two starts,going 1-0 while surrendering a total two runs and eight hits in13 frames.
AL: MINNESOTA (77-81) at BOSTON (94-64) <h3>Red Sox set their sights on the American League's best record</h3> <div class="pre">Minnesota (78-82) at Boston (95-65) 7:05 pm EDT</div> BOSTON (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox captured their firstAmerican League East Division title since 1995 on Friday night.They will look to lock up the AL's best record when they hostthe Twins on Saturday. The Red Sox earned a 5-2 victory on Friday to cut their magicnumber to one, and then waited over an hour with about 3,000fans and watched the New York Yankees lose to the BaltimoreOrioles in extra innings, clinching the division. Boston remains tied with the Cleveland Indians (95-65) for thebest record in the league and the right to choose which playoffformat they would prefer in the first round. The Red Sox ownthe head-to-head tiebreaker with the Indians. Tim Wakefield (16-12, 4.80 ERA) will get one more chance toround into postseason form on Saturday. The veteranknuckleballer has been terrible since returning from a backinjury on September 6. In four starts since his return, Wakefield is just 0-2 with a10.70 ERA. He is allowing opponents a .402 batting averagewhile surrendering 13 extra-base hits in 17 2/3 total innings. The Twins will counter with sinkerballer Carlos Silva (13-14,4.22). The Venezuelan righthander has been sharp lately,winning his last two starts while allowing just two runs in 132/3 combined innings against Texas and Detroit. Silva has had success against Boston in his career, owning a 2-2mark with a 1.69 ERA in five games - four starts.
AL: MINNESOTA (78-83) at BOSTON (96-65) <h3>Tavarez, Red Sox take final postseason tuneup vs. Twins</h3> <div class="pre">Minnesota (78-83) at Boston (96-65) 2:05 pm EDT</div> BOSTON (Ticker) - With everything settled, the Boston Red Soxcan relax and get healthy. Julian Tavarez will take the mound on Sunday when the Red Soxhost the Minnesota Twins in the final regular season game forboth teams. Boston clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffswhen they posted a 6-4 victory on Saturday and the ClevelandIndians (95-66) fell, 4-3, to the Kansas City Royals. After the game, Boston, which was given the choice between twoseparate playoff formats because they finished with the AmericanLeague's best record, choose to start their playoff run onWednesday, which gives them an extra day off between Game Oneand Two. Curt Schilling, who was scheduled to start on Sunday, willinstead rest up for a Game Two start, with Josh Beckett expectedto get the call in the opener on Wednesday. Tavarez (7-10, 5.06 ERA) will take Schilling's spot in therotation. The veteran sinkerballer began the season in the RedSox's rotation and has made spot starts and occasional reliefappearances since the All-Star break, but has logged just 5 2/3innings in September, making his inclusion on the postseasonroster unlikely. The Twins will counter with Matt Garza (4-7, 3.92). The23-year-old righthander has struggled coming down the stretch,going 1-3 over his last five starts, allowing at least four runsin each of his losses.
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS MINNESOTA BOSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Jason Bartlett SS .265 5 43 Dustin Pedroia 2B .317 8 50 Brian Buscher 3B .244 2 10 Manny Ramirez LF .295 20 87 Torii Hunter CF .286 28 106 David Ortiz DH .333 35 117 Justin Morneau DH .273 31 111 Mike Lowell 3B .326 21 120 Michael Cuddyer RF .278 16 81 Kevin Youkilis 1B .290 16 83 Garrett Jones 1B .216 2 4 Jason Varitek C .254 16 67 Rondell White LF .170 4 19 Coco Crisp CF .270 6 60 Matt Lecroy C .176 0 0 Jacoby Ellsbury RF .339 3 18 Alexi Casilla 2B .226 0 9 Julio Lugo SS .236 8 73 Matt Garza RHP (4-7, 3.92) Julian Tavarez RHP (7-10, 5.06)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA AT BOSTON -- REVISED LINEUPS MINNESOTA BOSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Nick Punto SS .211 1 25 Dustin Pedroia 2B .317 8 50 Brian Buscher 3B .244 2 10 Manny Ramirez LF .295 20 87 Torii Hunter CF .286 28 106 David Ortiz DH .333 35 117 Justin Morneau DH .273 31 111 Mike Lowell 3B .326 21 120 Michael Cuddyer RF .278 16 81 Kevin Youkilis 1B .290 16 83 Garrett Jones 1B .216 2 4 Jason Varitek C .254 16 67 Rondell White LF .170 4 19 Coco Crisp CF .270 6 60 Matt Lecroy C .176 0 0 Jacoby Ellsbury RF .339 3 18 Alexi Casilla 2B .226 0 9 Julio Lugo SS .236 8 73 Matt Garza RHP (4-7, 3.92) Julian Tavarez RHP (7-10, 5.06)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON WARMUPS: MIN - MATT GARZA (4-7, 3.92) BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ (7-10, 5.06) UMPIRES: HP - HUNTER WENDELSTEDT 1B - SAM HOLBROOK 2B - RANDY MARSH 3B - BOB DAVIDSON WEATHER: 61 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 12 mph, in from right</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON STARTING BATS: MIN - MATT GARZA AND MATT LECROY BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ AND JASON VARITEK DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: N PUNTO (.211, 1 HR, 25 RBI) B BUSCHER (.244, 2 HR, 10 RBI) T HUNTER (.286, 28 HR, 106 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY TORII HUNTER SCORED NICK PUNTO. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, T HUNTER ON SECOND, B BUSCHER ON THIRD, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1 BOSTON 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.273, 31 HR, 111 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY GARRETT JONES SCORED BRIAN BUSCHER. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M CUDDYER ON FIRST, T HUNTER ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2 BOSTON 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: R WHITE (.170, 4 HR, 19 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY RONDELL WHITE SCORED TORII HUNTER. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, R WHITE ON FIRST, M CUDDYER ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 3 BOSTON 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M LECROY (.176, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 3 3 3 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - MATT GARZA BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.317, 8 HR, 50 RBI) M RAMIREZ (.295, 20 HR, 87 RBI) D ORTIZ (.333, 35 HR, 117 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (3) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Punto ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .211 B Buscher 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .253 T Hunter cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .288 J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .278 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .216 R White lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .178 M LeCroy c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .167 A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 Totals 5 3 3 3 2 0 6 BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (45, J Tavarez). SF - G Jones. RBI - T Hunter (107), G Jones (5), R White (20). 2-out RBI - R White. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M LeCroy 1. Team LOB - 2. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Ellsbury rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 3 -- 3 BOSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era M Garza 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.92 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Tavarez 1 3 3 3 2 0 0 5.22 Pitches-strikes: J Tavarez 27-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J Tavarez 1-2. Batters faced: J Tavarez 8. UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob Davidson. Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - MATT GARZA BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 3 3 3 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - MATT GARZA BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.226, 0 HR, 9 RBI) N PUNTO (.211, 0-FOR-0, BB) B BUSCHER (.253, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (3) VS BOSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Punto ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .211 B Buscher 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .253 T Hunter cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .288 J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .278 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .216 R White lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .178 M LeCroy c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .167 A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 Totals 5 3 3 3 2 0 6 BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (45, J Tavarez). SF - G Jones. RBI - T Hunter (107), G Jones (5), R White (20). 2-out RBI - R White. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M LeCroy 1. Team LOB - 2. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .332 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Ellsbury rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 3 -- 3 BOSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era M Garza 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.87 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Tavarez 1 3 3 3 2 0 0 5.22 Pitches-strikes: M Garza 16-9; J Tavarez 27-13. Ground balls-fly balls: M Garza 1-1; J Tavarez 1-2. Batters faced: M Garza 4; J Tavarez 8. UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob Davidson. Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 3 0 3 3 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - MATT GARZA BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K YOUKILIS (.290, 16 HR, 83 RBI) J VARITEK (.254, 16 HR, 67 RBI) C CRISP (.270, 6 HR, 60 RBI)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (3) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Punto ss 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .210 B Buscher 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250 T Hunter cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .288 J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .278 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .216 R White lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .178 M LeCroy c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .167 A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 8 3 3 3 2 0 6 BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (45, J Tavarez). SF - G Jones. RBI - T Hunter (107), G Jones (5), R White (20). 2-out RBI - R White. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M LeCroy 1. Team LOB - 2. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .332 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Ellsbury rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 30 -- 3 BOSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era M Garza 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.87 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Tavarez 2 3 3 3 2 0 0 5.18 Pitches-strikes: M Garza 16-9; J Tavarez 35-20. Ground balls-fly balls: M Garza 1-1; J Tavarez 3-3. Batters faced: M Garza 4; J Tavarez 11. UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob Davidson. Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 3 0 3 3 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - MATT GARZA BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.288, 1-FOR-1, RBI) J MORNEAU (.272, 0-FOR-1) M CUDDYER (.278, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">MINNESOTA (3) VS BOSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Punto ss 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .210 B Buscher 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250 T Hunter cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .288 J Morneau dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .278 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .216 R White lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .178 M LeCroy c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .167 A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 8 3 3 3 2 0 6 BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (45, J Tavarez). SF - G Jones. RBI - T Hunter (107), G Jones (5), R White (20). 2-out RBI - R White. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M LeCroy 1. Team LOB - 2. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .332 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325 K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .254 C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 J Ellsbury rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .345 J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .236 Totals 7 0 1 0 2 2 5 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA - 30 -- 3 BOSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era M Garza 2 1 0 0 2 2 0 3.82 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Tavarez 2 3 3 3 2 0 0 5.18 Pitches-strikes: M Garza 39-22; J Tavarez 35-20. Ground balls-fly balls: M Garza 2-2; J Tavarez 3-3. Batters faced: M Garza 9; J Tavarez 11. UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob Davidson. Weather: 61 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: MINNESOTA at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 3 0 0 3 3 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - MATT GARZA BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.317, 0-FOR-1) M RAMIREZ (.295, 0-FOR-0, BB) D ORTIZ (.332, 0-FOR-1)</div>
