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BOSTON (Reuters) - Jacoby Ellsbury lined a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to keep the Boston Red Sox in first place in the American League East with a 3-2 triumph over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

Ellsbury came to the plate with one out in the ninth and the game tied at 2-2, and drove a pitch into the outfield against Cleveland reliever Vinnie Pestano to end the game.

With the win, the Red Sox (67-41) maintained their one-game lead in both the division and the American League over the New York Yankees (66-42), who beat the Chicago White Sox in a rain-shortened affair.

Boston starter Josh Beckett allowed two runs in six innings of a no-decision, as the home side fell 2-1 behind before Kevin Youkilis tied the game with a solo homer in the sixth.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon (3-0) pitched a perfect ninth to pick up the victory.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)