Though the clinching’s circumstances merit such a disclaimer, don’t tell anyone from the Red Sox that they backed into the American League wild-card berth. Yes, they’ve lost five straight games, and yes, players left Fenway Park after Tuesday night’s 8-7 loss to Toronto and then returned to celebrate the Angels’ 5-2 win over Texas in Anaheim. The champagne they sprayed around the clubhouse early this morning was just as bubbly as it’d have been had the Red Sox clinched the wild-card unassisted.

Now that the playoff invitation has been formalized, taking a step back, allowing the regulars some measure of rest and preparing the pitching staff for next week’s AL Division Series opener in Anaheim will be the main goals connected to the regular season’s final five games.

As for the losing streak, history suggests it doesn’t really matter how many wins a team totes into the playoffs. For dramatic evidence, witness the 2001 Seattle Mariners, whose 116 regular-season wins were forgotten as the Yankees (who won 95 regular-season games, losing eight of their final 15) needed just five games to beat them in the ALCS.

Specifically, there is the issue of Josh Beckett’s aching back, which required cortisone injections yesterday and will be tested Saturday at Fenway against Cleveland.

Clay Buchholz, cuffed around by the Blue Jays last night in another example of his consistent inconsistency this season, will get a chance to enter the playoffs on a high note in the regular-season finale Sunday.

And while Terry Francona won’t confirm what seems obvious, the schedule would indicate that Jon Lester will be the Red Sox starter in the first playoff game in Anaheim next Wednesday or Thursday.

Tags: Angels, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Mariners, Rangers, Red Sox, Terry Francona, Yankees