BOSTON (Ticker) -- It's not like Boston fans did not expect it.

After watching ace Pedro Martinez lose in the opener, the Red Sox blew two leads in the nightcap and saw their postseason hopes fade away following a 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians that completed a day-night doubleheader sweep.

Kenny Lofton had three hits and scored twice and Omar Vizquel became the first Indian to steal home in eight years as the Indians made a statement and regained the lead in the American League wild card race.

After besting baseball's best pitcher in the opener, Cleveland scored three times in the fifth inning to erase a 3-0 hole and twice in the seventh to overcome a 4-3 deficit. The sweep moved the Indians one-half game ahead of Oakland in the wild card race and left Boston four games back.

"We know how well Oakland's been playing. That's why today was so important," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "But that doesn't mean we've forgotten about the Red Sox. This is a good opportunity for us to put some distance between us and Boston because we know Boston will be fighthing to the very end."

"We lost two ballgames, but we're not out of it," Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said. "There's still lots of baseball to be played. They just came out and got key hits when they needed them today in both games."

Cleveland closer Bob Wickman, who nearly blew game one of the twinbill, was nearly perfect in the nightcap. He entered in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out and got Lou Merloni to bounce into a double play. He allowed a walk in the ninth but hung on for his 12th save in 14 chances.

"I've held two games in a day before, but never saved two in a day," Wickman said. "This is something new for me, but today is over, now we have to start thinking about tomorrow. Today was a good day for us."

After dealing the Red Sox and Martinez a 2-1 defeat, Cleveland had the favorable pitching matchup in the nightcap as they sent 15-game winner Dave Burba to the hill against Paxton Crawford.

But Burba struggled, allowing a run in the second, two in the fourth and another in the fifth. Overall, he gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Crawford did an admirable job, allowing three runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings. Rheal Cormier (2-3) yielded both runs in the seventh and suffered the loss.

Boston took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on doubles by Troy O'Leary and Merloni. The Red Sox added two runs in the fourth on doubles by Scott Hatteberg and Merloni and an RBI single by Brian Daubach.

The Indians got even after two were out in the fifth. Bill Selby was hit by a pitch and Lofton singled to center. Vizquel walked and Roberto Alomar followed with a two-run single to left. Vizquel and Alomar engineered a double steal and Manny Ramirez walked, ending Crawford's night.

But a daring baserunning move by Vizquel resulted in a steal of home, the first by an Indian since Kenny Lofton accomplished the feat on April 26, 1992.

"I just tried to time his motion," Vizquel said, referring to Cormier. "Once he went into the stretch, I saw my opportunity and took off. I knew every run was important for us."

Trot Nixon started the bottom of the fifth with his 10th homer, putting Boston ahead, 4-3. But lead did not last as the Indians rallied in the seventh.

Lofton singled, Vizquel walked and Rich Garces replaced Cormier. After a flyout, Ramirez singled up the middle to tie it and Thome lined a single over shortstop Nomar Garciaparra's head for a 5-4 lead.

"It was great to see the clutch hitting we showed in both games today, especially the two-out hitting in that second game," Thome said.

Ramirez has 111 RBI in 105 games and has reached base in 46 straight contests, the longest streak in the AL this season.