Pedroia collected two hits to boost his average up to .326, but Mauer also went 2-for-5 and finished up a full season's worth of work with a .330 batting average.

If the Chicago White Sox win a makeup game Monday, then Mauer will have a one-game playoff's worth of at bats Tuesday. But it's nigh impossible that the Mauer's batting average will drop four points in one game (Mauer would have to go 0-for-7 for Pedroia to win the title outright).

Batting title or no batting title, Pedroia was focused instead on getting his team ready for its impending playoff date with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Was he aware of how close the batting race was, particularly after getting a "gift" hit on a tough bounce off the Fenway infield?

"Not really," said Pedroia, who managed to keep a straight face while saying it. "After getting that second hit I'm going to tip the grounds crew, man, because that was a great hop.

"I'm not real big into personal achievements like that," added Pedroia. "As long as I had a good season, whether I finish second, third or whatever, that's fine."

Instead, Pedroia will have to take solace in leading the American League by a wide margin with 118 runs scored and tying Ichiro Suzuki for the major league lead with 213 hits this season. Not too shabby for a guy who should hear more than a few "MVP" chants during Boston's postseason run.

YANKEES 6, RED SOX 2; RED SOX 4, YANKEES 3 (10 innings): RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka dropped to 18-3 in his final start of the regular season after allowing three runs in four innings, and 2B Dustin Pedroia fell short of an AL batting title despite a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. OF Jonathan Van Every laced an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning in the second game to give the Sox their 95th and final win of the regular season. RHP Devern Hansack picked up his first win of the season after throwing a perfect inning of relief.