Boston, MA (Best E Casino) - Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer, while Jason Bay's RBI single in the fifth inning was the difference, as the Boston Red Sox clinched a postseason berth with a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians in the second installment of a four-game set from Fenway Park.

Dustin Pedroia collected two hits and drove the other two runs for the Red Sox, who earned a spot in the playoffs for the second consecutive season and for the fifth time in the last six campaigns.

Since 2003, the only year Boston has failed to play beyond the regular season came in 2006. Over the last five seasons, the Red Sox have reached three AL Championship series and won the World Series twice, in 2004 and 2007.

"It feels great," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "It's probably a little different every time, different emotions, but it certainly doesn't become less enjoyable or less satisfying and it's nice to know that we have more baseball to play."

The Red Sox still have an opportunity to catch Tampa Bay for the AL East crown. The Rays hold a three-game lead over Boston after sweeping a doubleheader in Baltimore. Each club has five games remaining.

Tim Wakefield (10-11) got the win, allowing six hits and four runs over six innings, fanning six with a walk. Jonathan Papelbon recorded the final four outs to earn his 41st save.

Jhonny Peralta went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Indians, whose seven-game win streak came to a halt. Grady Sizemore, Jamey Carroll and Shin-Soo Choo also knocked in runs.

Tribe starter Cliff Lee (22-3) took the loss, his first since July 6, as he was charged with nine hits and five runs over seven full frames.

"He wasn't as sharp as we've seen him but he battled through it like he always does and he gave us the chance to win the ball game," said Indians manager Eric Wedge of Lee.

After dodging a pair of bases-loaded situations in the seventh and eighth innings, Papelbon began the ninth by striking out Choo and Peralta swinging. He finished off the victory by inducing a pop out to short from Victor Martinez -- touching off a spirited but subdued celebration.

"We (coaches) never go on the field when the game's over," Francona added. "We always stand there and let the players do their thing. We didn't talk about it. Just let them do their thing."

A duel between Cleveland ace Lee and veteran knuckleballer Wakefield dominated the first three innings.

The Red Sox picked up the game's first runs in the home fourth. David Ortiz slugged a leadoff double to dead center and Youkilis followed with a two-run shot over the Green Monster.

Cleveland rallied in the fifth. Kelly Shoppach was hit by a pitch and Franklin Gutierrez singled. Josh Barfield fanned swinging, but Sizemore's base hit brought in Shoppach. Carroll's groundout scored Gutierrez, then a bloop double from Choo and Peralta's double off the wall provided a 4-2 lead.

Pedroia's one-out, two-run double in the home half tied the game. Two batters later Youkilis was given an intentional walk and Bay followed by sneaking a single up the middle to score Pedroia for a 5-4 Red Sox edge.

The Tribe loaded the bases against Manny Delcarmen in the seventh on a Barfield single, walk to Choo and Peralta's infield single. On that play, Sox shortstop Alex Cora smothered the ball in back of second and threw to third, preventing a run from scoring. Hideki Okajima was then called on to face Martinez, whose foul pop to first ended the inning.

Cleveland again had the sacks loaded with two down in the eighth, but Papelbon spelled Justin Masterson and retired Carroll on a fielder's choice to second.

"The story was the seventh and eighth innings," noted Wedge. "You load the bases and don't get anything from it in a tight ball game like that. That's going to be the difference and it proved to be."

Game Notes

Wakefield had dropped three of his last four games prior to Tuesday. He recorded his second straight and 10th ten-win season as a member of the Red Sox, tying Roger Clemens for the most in franchise history...Lee had won 11 consecutive decisions and went 14 starts between defeats...Earlier in the day, the Red Sox announced that they will retire legendary infielder Johnny Pesky's number six in a pre-game ceremony on Friday...Indians third baseman Andy Marte left the game in the third inning with a strained calf and did not return...Attendance was 37,882 -- the 464th consecutive sellout at Fenway, which continues to set a major-league record.