Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - With their playoff hopes gone, the Boston Red Sox will try to re-adjust their focus this afternoon when they end a three- game set with the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.

Despite an Anaheim loss, the Red Sox were unable to take advantage in the wild card race after a 7-2 defeat to the White Sox, who officially eliminated them from contention.

Derek Lowe (21-8), among the contenders for the AL Cy Young, permitted five runs in seven innings to absorb his first defeat after winning three consecutive starts. He gave up six hits, issued two walks and struck out five.

Manny Ramirez finished with two hits for the Red Sox, who had won five straight just to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. Ramirez improved his average to .347, best in the AL, and extended his hitting streak to 11.

Joe Crede delivered three hits and drove in four runs to pace the White Sox to the victory. Crede's three-run homer in the fourth extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. Jeff Liefer and Magglio Ordonez added home runs in the win.

Liefer contributed two hits and scored three runs for Chicago, which has won four of its last five games. Ordonez reached career highs in home runs (37) and RBI (130).

Rocky Biddle (3-4) pitched five innings to post his second win in three starts for the White Sox. He permitted two runs -- one earned -- on six hits while walking two and striking out two.

Kelly Wunsch, Keith Foulke and Damaso Marte combined for four shutout innings in relief for Chicago.

The Red Sox will turn to 24-year-old righthander Joshua Hancock this afternoon. Hancock, a fifth-round draft pick by the Sox in 1998, has pitched two innings out of the bullpen since his recall from Triple-A Pawtucket on September 3. He hasn't allowed a hit or a run.

Chicago will reply by handing the ball to Dan Wright. Wright has won three straight and five of his last six starts, including a win over Minnesota last week. The big righthander held the Twins to just five hits and two runs over eight innings, while fanning three and walking one.

Wright has posted a 1-0 mark with a 4.26 ERA versus the Red Sox this year. For his career, Wright has tallied a 1-0 record with a 3.86 ERA versus Boston.

The righthander has been decent at home on the season, tallying a 6-6 record with a 5.70 earned run average in 15 contests.

Chicago owns a slight 3-2 advantage over the Red Sox and a 6-5 edge since the start of the 2001 campaign.

The Red Sox are 51-29 on the road and 19-16 versus the Central, while Chicago is 46-34 at home and 17-14 against East.