That wasn't going to happen last night, so perhaps it's just as well they dropped a rain-shortened 11-5 decision to the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park that temporarily left the magic number for clinching the AL wild card at two.

With the Texas Rangers getting pummeled by the Los Angeles Angels in the early going last night in Anaheim, Calif., though, that magic number had a good chance of dropping to one. If the Rangers indeed dropped the game to the Angels, tonight's game against the Blue Jays would give the Sox a chance to clinch on the field in front of their home fans, which is the way they'd like it.

``To clinch here at home would be great,'' center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury said. ``That's the goal at the start of the year, to get back to the postseason. Once you get there, anything can happen. It's a good feeling when you do it. It takes a lot of hard work, and a lot of things have to go right for you, no matter what kind of team you put together at the beginning of the year. It's rewarding for a team to have a good season and get into the postseason.''

As for last night's loss, Josh Beckett was scratched from making the start because of minor back spasms and his replacement, Michael Bowden, allowed seven runs in three innings.

With Bowden gone, the Blue Jays proceeded to tee off on reliever Hunter Jones for four more runs before one of the night's few bright spots emerged, a scoreless 1 1/3 innings from Dustin Richardson in his big league debut. Richardson, like Hunter a lefty, began the day in Florida, but he hopped a 5 a.m. flight north and retired the dangerous Aaron Hill, who homered off Bowden in the first inning, in his first matchup.

``I was dumb(-struck),'' Richardson said. ``I couldn't even tell you who I faced.''

The skies opened in the seventh inning and that was the end of that. Toronto delayed any champagne celebrations for at least 24 hours.

``It's always nice when you win and get stuff on your own,'' catcher Victor Martinez said. ``At the same time, we're just going to come out tomorrow and go out there and play hard and do our thing to win a game.

``I always say this game is tough enough to put any other kind of pressure on yourself. Just worry day by day, game by game. Come to the park, play your game, and let things happen.''

Another bright spot was the performance of third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who had scuffled a bit since returning from back spasms of his own. Youkilis broke out in a big way, however, blasting a pair of home runs.

``(Youkilis) swung the bat great,'' manager Terry Francona said. ``That was terrific. Right off the get-go, he swung the bat great.''

David Ortiz homered as well, his 28th.

With the Red Sox on the cusp of a postseason berth, Martinez admitted he has let himself think about what it would be like to celebrate with his new team.

``I'm pretty excited to see what it's like when that moment comes,'' Martinez said. ``(In 2007 with Cleveland it) was my first time making the playoffs and it was by far one of the best things that happened in my career, making it to the playoffs and celebrating.''

- jtomase@bostonherald.com