​The Cleveland Guardians will have to wait to clinch an American League playoff spot.The Red Sox shut them out 1-0 Wednesday, Sept. 23 to keep Cleveland’s magic number to clinch the playoffs frozen at two.Boston starter Sonny Gray shut down the Guardians for six innings Wednesday before the Red Sox bullpen took over to complete the shutout.Cleveland starter Foster Griffin pitched out of trouble for most of his six innings, with the Red Sox finally getting a run against him in the sixth. He allowed 10 hits but no walks and struck out seven.Boston’s run in the sixth came on Andruw Monasterio’s RBI single, which scored Jarren Duran.That was enough support for Gray and company.Gray allowed just four hits and a walk in six innings, striking out three.Hard-throwing Tyron Guerrero took over in the seventh for the Red Sox and struck out the side. Garrett Whitlock pitched the eighth, put two runners on, but got out of trouble. Closer Aroldis Chapman, pitching for the first time in 10 days because of lat tightness, struck out the side in the ninth.Steven Kwan had two of Cleveland’s five hits Wednesday. Petey Halpin, Patrick Bailey and Brayan Rocchio had the other Guardians hits.Rocchio’s single led off the eighth against Whitlock and he moved up to second when Jose Ramirez walked with one out. Whitlock got out of trouble by getting Chase DeLauter to hit into an inning-ending double play.Guardians magic numberCleveland’s magic number for clinching a playoff spot remains at two after its loss Wednesday.American League Central standingsHere are the AL Central standings after the Guardians lossWednesday, Sept. 23:Guardians (82-76) —White Sox (81-76) .5 GBAmerican League wild card standingsHere are the AL wild card standings through games played Tuesday Sept. 22: Yankees (90-67) +9Red Sox (85-73) +3.5White Sox (81-76) —Astros (78-79) 3 GBBlue Jays (77-79) 3.5 GBNext Guardians gameThe Guardians continue the final road trip of the regular season when they play the Red Sox on Thusday, Sept. 24, at Fenway Park in Boston. Cleveland closes out the regular season Sept. 25-27 with three games in Kansas City.The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score vs. Red Sox. Cleveland loses, magic number stays the same