MLB: Boston 5, Cleveland 4

BOSTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Mark Kotsay doubled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning Wednesday and Boston went on to edge Cleveland 5-4.

The Red Sox kept alive their slim hopes of claiming the American League East title. Tampa Bay defeated Baltimore Wednesday, keeping Boston three games behind the Rays with four games remaining.

For Boston to claim the division crown, the Red Sox would have to win their last four games and Tampa Bay would have to lose its four contests. If the teams wound up tied, Tampa Bay would be the division champion because it won the season series with the Red Sox.

Boston, assured of no worse than a wild card playoff berth since Tuesday, scored four times in the first inning against Fausto Carmona.

Cleveland rallied to tie the game in the fifth, but Boston produced the game-winner in the eighth off Rafael Perez (4-4) when pinch-hitter Jeff Bailey tripled and scored on Kotsay's double to right.

David Aardsma (4-2) worked 1 2/3 innings of relief to get the win and Manny Delcarmen struck out two in the ninth for his second save.