Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jed Lowrie hit two home runs and knocked in three as the Red Sox handed the Yankees an 8-4 loss on the final day of the season to deny New York a chance at a second straight American League East title.
Yankees Turn To Dustin Moseley In Hunt For AL East Title
J.D. Drew added a two-run homer and John Lackey (14-11) matched a season high with 10 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and three runs -- two earned.
While Boston (89-73) is sitting out postseason play for the first time since 2006, it cost rival New York (95-67) a shot at wrapping up homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs, as the Yankees needed a win and a Tampa Bay loss Sunday to do so.
The two teams came into the final day of the regular season with identical records but the Rays won out for the division by way of a 10-8 advantage in the head-to-head series, saddling the Yanks with wild card status.
The Yankees will be on the road to start the ALDS, traveling to Minnesota to take on the AL Central-champion Twins with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday.
Nick Swisher homered and Derek Jeter picked up two hits with an RBI in the loss. Dustin Moseley (4-4) started and went five innings, surrendering five hits and four runs.
Moseley got off to a rough start, walking Lowrie with one out in the first and ran a full count to Drew, who swatted a two-run homer to right-center.
Swisher was able to halve Boston's lead in the second with a solo blast to right field. New York tied it in the third when Drew mishandled a ball hit by Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez stroked a single to center for a 2-2 game.
Moseley held his own until the fifth when Lowrie connected for a two-out, two- run shot after a walk to Eric Patterson.
Hopes of an 11th division title in the last 13 years fell apart in the sixth when the bullpen took over for Moseley and only added to Boston’s lead.
The inning started in unorthodox fashion with David Ortiz laying down a bunt single toward third against the shift. He was replaced for a pinch-runner in perhaps his final game in a Red Sox uniform and left to a standing ovation that included a curtain call.
David Robertson entered for Royce Ring and walked Bill Hall before Ryan Kalish lashed a single to center to make it 5-2. A double steal and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Lars Anderson, whose sacrifice fly off Boone Logan preceded a steal of home by Kalish as Boston's advantage reached five.
Joba Chamberlain came out for the seventh inning and Lowrie led off with his second home run of the game.
Lackey came out with runners at the corners with two outs in the eighth and gave way to Rich Hill, who gave up an RBI single to Robinson Cano before Daniel Bard escaped a bases-loaded jam with a groundout from Jorge Posada.
In the final frame, New York made closer Jonathan Papelbon work against six hitters but managed only Jeter's run-scoring base hit as any hopes of a final rally at Fenway were dashed.
Jason Varitek received a similar nod as Ortiz from the Sox faithful when he was replaced behind the plate to start the top of the ninth. He caught Papelbon's warmup pitches and was granted a standing-ovation exit with the contract status for him and Ortiz up in the air.
New York and Boston split 18 meetings this season, while the Yanks won five of nine visits to Beantown...The Yankees split a doubleheader with the Red Sox on Saturday, with both games going 10 innings...The Rays will host the AL West champion Texas Rangers on Wednesday...Brett Gardner had two hits and scored two runs for the Yankees...Rodriguez ended with 125 RBI on the year and Swisher with 29 homers. Cano reached a career high with 109 RBI this season while batting .319.
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