Masataka Yoshida set a Boston Red Sox rookie record with his 50th multi-hit game in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Japanese compatriot Seiya Suzuki, meanwhile, fell short of the playoffs with the Chicago Cubs as the Miami Marlins clinched the third and final National League Wild Card berth.
Batting fourth as designated hitter, Yoshida went 3-for-5 with an RBI in the penultimate game of the season against the American League East division champions at Oriole Park.
He drove in Boston's final run with a fluke ninth-inning double off Baltimore reliever Jacob Webb on a flare hit just over the second baseman.
Despite getting three hits for the first time since Sept. 23, the 30-year-old former Orix Buffaloes star was not satisfied with his performance.
"Identifying pitches is one of the things I still need to improve," Yoshida said.
Yoshida's strong rookie campaign has been a bright spot in a disappointing year for the Red Sox, who will finish bottom of the AL East.
"The season felt long midway through, but at this stage it feels like it went by in the blink of an eye," said Yoshida, who came into the season after being a critical run producer for World Baseball Classic champion Japan in March.
At American Family Field, Suzuki and the Cubs did their part to stay in playoff contention, beating the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers 10-6, but the Marlins secured the remaining Wild Card spot by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3.
Suzuki went 1-for-4, drew a walk and scored two runs for the Cubs, whose playoff push came undone with a four-game losing streak down the final stretch.
It was a tough end to a season that started on a sour note for Suzuki. He missed the WBC with an oblique muscle injury and didn't make his season debut until April 14, and then struggled until July. "I couldn't contribute enough in the first half of the season," Suzuki said. "I think we had a chance, so it's a shame."
