By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com BOSTON -- The Yankees' season-long quest of another American League East title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs was dashed on Sunday, accepting an 8-4 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday at Fenway Park. Jed Lowrie homered twice and J.D. Drew also went deep in the contest for Boston, ensuring New York could only be awarded the AL Wild Card at the conclusion of the regular season's 162nd game. Finishing the season 95-67, the Yankees' next assignment will be to play the Twins in the AL Division Series, which is scheduled to open Wednesday at Minnesota's Target Field. Needing a victory and a Rays loss to secure the division after splitting a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, the Yankees gave the ball to spot starter Dustin Moseley, who provided five innings despite being informed of his assignment just minutes after the twin bill. Trying to sleep quickly after the Yankees' late-evening finish, Moseley gave his team what he could on a crisp New England afternoon. But two of the five hits Moseley surrendered were homers, accounting for the four runs Boston knocked home against the right-hander. Drew connected for a two-run blast, his 22nd, off Moseley in the first inning, and Lowrie sent a full-count pitch into the Yankees bullpen in the fifth inning, with his eighth homer of the year giving the Red Sox a 4-2 lead at the time. With Moseley done, the Red Sox opened the game up in a three-run sixth inning. David Ortiz surprised lefty Royce Ring with a bunt single -- taking a curtain call after leaving for a pinch-runner -- and Ryan Kalish knocked that run home with an RBI single. Kalish later stole home plate on the back end of a double steal with Daniel Nava, and Lars Anderson lifted a sacrifice fly for Boston's seventh run. Lowrie hit his second homer, a solo shot, off Joba Chamberlain in the seventh. Nick Swisher hit his 29th homer and Alex Rodriguez drilled an RBI single to pace the Yankees' attack against John Lackey, who pitched into the eighth inning, limiting New York to three runs on six hits. After an off-day Monday and a flight to Minneapolis on Tuesday, the Yankees will reunite with the Twins, their ALDS foes from last season, when New York swept Minnesota in the three-game series -- including the final baseball game played at the Metrodome. New York was 4-2 against the Twins this season, winning two of three in their first series at Target Field from May 25-27. "We know we've played well against them, but they're still a good team," Andy Pettitte said last week. "We know anybody can beat anybody, and everybody's dangerous. That's my approach. I don't know how everybody else feels, but we know we're going to have to pitch great to win. That's all there is to it. Hopefully we can do that."
