White Sox beat eliminated Boston in Viciedo RBI hit in 9th

Just about an hour after learning his team’s playoff hopes were over, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona watched as his bullpen blew a late-inning lead.Paul Konerko tied the game in the eighth inning with a run-scoring double and Dayan Viciedo won it with a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth as the White Sox rallied for a 5-4 victory Tuesday night.Boston’s slim playoff hopes were dashed about an hour before the game ended. Tampa Bays beat Baltimore 5-0 and New York defeated Toronto 6-1 to secure playoff berths and eliminate the Red Sox.A season with mounting injuries means the Red Sox won’t be playing in the postseason for the first time since 2006.Chris Sale (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win for the White Sox, who snapped a seven-game home losing streak.Juan Pierre singled with one out in the ninth off Michael Bowden (0-1). Pierre stole second and third off reliever Michael Bowden, who then walked pinch-hitter Mark Teahen. Viciedo ended the game with a single off Matt Fox just past a diving Daniel Nava in left.The White Sox have won five of its last six games as they hope to close the season on a strong note.Trailing 4-3 in the eighth, Manny Ramirez led off the inning with a walk. Brent Lillibridge came in as a pinch-runner and stole second. Konerko doubled to right off Daniel Bard to tie the game at 4. Bard ended the inning by striking out Andruw Jones with runners on first and third.David Ortiz homered for the Red Sox and John Lackey pitched six strong innings.The Red Sox battled through season-ending injuries to Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis.J.D. Drew homered and Adrian Beltre had two hits for Boston, which lost for the second time in six games.Lackey allowed two runs, three hits and a walk while striking out five.Carlos Quentin homered for the White Sox. Starter Edwin Jackson gave up four runs, three earned, struck out six and walked one.Jackson allowed consecutive doubles in the second. Beltre led off the inning with a double down the left-field line and scored on Jed Lowrie’s double.Drew homered on a 2-2 pitch with one out in the third, his 21st of the season. Beltre drove in another run with a sacrifice fly.Ramirez led off the fourth with a single. Two outs later, Quentin hit his 26th homer to cut the Red Sox lead to 3-2.Ortiz hit his 32nd homer in the sixth. Red Sox reliever Scott Atchison gave up consecutive singles to Quentin and Alexei Ramirez in the seventh. Rich Hill relieved Atchison and retired the first batter he faced then gave up an RBI single to Brent Morel.

NOTES—A.J. Pierzynski is unsure of his future with the White Sox. Pierzynski becomes a free agent after the season and has played the last six seasons with the White Sox. “Everyone knows where I stand with the White Sox and the people and the city,” he said. “I’ve never said that I don’t want to come back. The door is open. But we’ll see what happens. It takes two to do that, make it possible. We’ll see where it goes.” ….Red Sox C Jarrod Saltalamacchia underwent successful surgery to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb. Boston expects Saltalamacchia to be ready for spring training…..Alex Rios is day-to-day after fouling a ball off his left knee.