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| Tuesday, October 12 | ||||||
CLEVELAND -- Kenny Lofton was getting his dislocated left shoulder checked at a hospital while his team was facing more bad news: elimination from the American League playoffs.
The Red Sox clinched the best-of-5 division series 3-2 and will start the best-of-7 AL Championship Series at New York against the Yankees on Wednesday night. Lofton was admitted to Lutheran Hospital, where he was to undergo X-rays to determine whether there was additional damage to his shoulder. The Indians said Lofton's shoulder was popped back into the socket. He had been 2-for-15 in the series before hitting a ground ball to first baseman Mike Stanley and sliding in an attempt to beat the throw to pitcher Pedro Martinez, covering at first. After Lofton was called out, he lay face down on the ground for several minutes. Lofton, who had two stints on the disabled list this season with hamstring injuries, got slowly to his feet and was helped off the field by Indians assistant trainer Jim Warfield, who had his hand under Lofton's left elbow for support. The score was 8-8 when he was replaced by Roberts, who struck out and lined out in his two at-bats. Martinez entered the game to start the fourth, his first appearance since straining a muscle beneath his right shoulder blade during last Wednesday night's series opener at Jacobs Field.
He pitched six hitless innings, striking out eight and walking
three in earning the victory. | ALSO SEE Red Sox vs. Indians series page
Pedro's relief work pitches Red Sox into ALCS
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