Fans Come Out To See Big Papi's Final Regular-Season Game at Fenway

David Ortiz is down to his final regular-season game, and it will be an important one for the Boston Red Sox.

With their 40-year-old slugger heading into retirement, the Red Sox could use a victory on Sunday to help their chances of earning home-field advantage in their AL Division Series against Cleveland.

"Obviously, we would like the home-field advantage," Boston utilityman Brock Holt said after a 4-3 loss to Toronto. "We'll come ready to go. ... Hopefully we'll play that first game here."

The Indians (93-67) would open at home if they win their last two games, or even one if Boston (93-68) loses its finale against Toronto on Sunday.

One night after the Blue Jays blew a 3-1 lead and gave up Ortiz's game-winning homer, Toronto's J.A. Happ seemed poised to pick up his 21st win.

But with the Blue Jays leading 3-2 in the eighth, Mookie Betts doubled, took third on Brock Holt's hard-hit double-play ball and then scored to tie it when closer Roberto Osuna balked in the winning run.

In the ninth, though, Ezequiel Carrera delivered a sacrifice fly and Toronto won to move into a tie with Baltimore for the top spot in the AL wild-card race.

"We had the lead and the tying run scores on balk. I was worried about the baseball gods," said manager John Gibbons, whose team is tied with the Orioles at 88 wins with one to play. "We want to enjoy this one. They're hard to come by."

Toronto owns the tie-breaker with Baltimore. Detroit is also still in the wild-card hunt.

Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (2-6) has losses in two of his last three appearances, issuing six walks while completing two innings. Since Sept. 22, his ERA has risen from 2.52 to 3.40.

The 21-year-old Osuna (4-3) retired the Red Sox in order in the ninth to recover from his sixth blown save of the season.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (14-2, 3.06 ERA) goes in the regular season finale Sunday. He's allowed one run over six innings in each of his last two starts after extended rest for a blister.

Red Sox: Former Blue Jays left-hander David Price (17-9, 4.04) will start for Boston on Sunday. He took the loss in his previous start Tuesday against the Yankees, giving up six runs and 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings, halting his career-best, eight-game winning streak.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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