Update: Scott Kazmir notched his seventh strikeout against the Yankees in the fifth inning, giving him 236 for the season. Johan Santana, who has 235, won’t win the AL strikeout title this year for the first time since 2003.

Greetings from Fenway Park. The Red Sox are ready to celebrate their first AL East title since 1995. Their magic number is two, so it could happen tonight if Boston wins and the Yankees lose at Tampa Bay. The Twins are facing 20-game winner Josh Beckett.

Twins lineup: Jason Bartlett SS, Jason Kubel LF, Torii Hunter CF, Justin Morneau DH, Michael Cuddyer RF, Garrett Jones 1B, Matthew LeCroy C, Brian Buscher 3B, Nick Punto 2B. Starting pitcher: RH Boof Bonser.

Red Sox lineup: Dustin Pedroia 2B, Manny Ramirez LF, David Ortiz DH, Mike Lowell 3B, J.D. Drew RF, Jason Varitek C, Jacoby Ellsbury CF, Eric Hinske 1B, Julio Lugo SS. Starting pitcher: RH Josh Beckett.

Fenway Park. Scheduled first pitch: 6:05 (Central).

On a night Johan Santana and Joe Mauer likely saw their final action of the season, the struggles of rookies Alexi Casilla and Nick Blackburn stood out for Manager Ron Gardenhire. Casilla made two errors, giving him 10 in 55 games, and Blackburn allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits in two innings.

“We had some bad plays out there,” Gardenhire said. “After the first rain delay, Blackburn just threw everything the same speed. He’s got a good curve ball. He can’t come into this league and throw fastballs and cutters over the plate. He just never made an adjustment out there.

“… Lexi had a brutal night catching the ball. You’ve just got to catch the ball and get outs. Unfortunately we didn’t do that either, so not a good night, and not a fun night out there in the water and the rain.”

Santana is done for the year. “He said his next start is Monday,” Gardenhire joked. Like Santana, Mauer left the game after the third inning, and Gardenhire hinted beforehand that this would be his last game catching this year.

Rain update: They announced 8:05 (Central) as the expected time the game would resume, but after the ground crew removed the tarp from the infield it started raining again. So we’re on hold. It will be interesting to see if Johan returns for the fourth inning. He has pitched at least five innings in 123 consecutive starts, the third longest such streak in the majors over the past 50 years.

8:20 update: The tarp is coming off the field. Nick Blackburn is warming up in the bullpen. Santana’s streak will end. They’re predicting a 8:30 restart time.

8:31: Game on.

Johan Santana will close his season tonight, looking to fend off Tampa Bay’s Scott Kazmir for a fourth consecutive strikeout crown. Santana has 231 strikeouts, and Kazmir, who makes his final start against the Yankees tomorrow, has 229.

Update: Mike Winters was supposed to umpire this game, after being here for the first two games of the series, but Major League Baseball has suspended him for his conduct in the Milton Bradley incident on Sunday. Crew chief Bruce Froemming declined comment before the game.

Twins lineup: Alexi Casilla 2B, Jason Kubel LF, Joe Mauer C, Torii Hunter CF, Justin Morneau 1B, Michael Cuddyer RF, Rondell White DH, Luis Rodriguez 3B, Nick Punto SS. Starting pitcher: Santana.

Tigers lineup: Placido Polanco 2B, Ryan Raburn CF, Gary Sheffield DH, Magglio Ordonez RF, Carlos Guillen SS, Marcus Thames LF, Mike Hessman 1B, Brandon Inge 3B, Mike Rabelo C. Starting pitcher: RH Jair Jurrjens.

Comerica Park. Scheduled first pitch: 6:05 p.m. (Central).

That’s 14 shutout losses and counting for the Twins after their 8-0 defeat tonight against the Tigers. And while this could change, Boston has these four pitchers lined up to face the Twins for the season-ending series that starts Thursday at Fenway Park: Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Curt Schilling.

The Twins also suffered 14 shutout losses in 2006, 1994, 1972 and 1964. One more would be a new team record.

Scott Baker has made his last start of the season. He rejoined the Twins today, after making sure his oldest son was fine after a battle with pneumonia. But Baker’s right hand is still swollen from the line drive that hit him Saturday.

Boof Bonser will take Baker’s spot Thursday. After Johan Santana pitches on Wednesday, the Twins will send Bonser, Kevin Slowey, Carlos Silva and Matt Garza to the mound against the Red Sox.

Twins lineup: Jason Bartlett SS, Jason Kubel LF, Torii Hunter CF, Justin Morneau 1B, Michael Cuddyer RF, Garrett Jones DH, Chris Heintz C, Brian Buscher 3B, Alexi Casilla 2B. Starting pitcher: RH Matt Garza.

Tigers lineup: Curtis Granderson CF, Placido Polanco 2B, Gary Sheffield DH, Magglio Ordonez RF, Carlos Guillen SS, Pudge Rodriguez C, Timo Perez LF, Sean Casey 1B, Brandon Inge 3B. Starting pitcher: RH Yorman Bazardo.

Comerica Park. Scheduled first pitch: 6:05 p.m. (Central).