CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians had their chances against the Chicago White Sox . Now, their postseason chances have all but slipped away.

Tadahito Iguchi belted a three-run homer and Jon Garland and four relievers wiggled out of jams as the White Sox put a damper on the Indians' playoff hopes with a 4-3 victory.

Entering one game behind Boston and the New York Yankees in the American League wild card chase, Cleveland took an early lead against Chicago on an RBI single by Casey Blake in the fifth inning. But Iguchi highlighted a four-run seventh with his 15th homer of the season to give the White Sox a three-run advantage.

"I think it was a fastball," Iguchi said through an interpreter. "My timing had been off against (Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook ). I was hoping I could drive the ball to center field."

Garland (18-10), who avoided further damage in the fifth by inducing an inning-ending flyout by Grady Sizemore , did not get off to a good start in the seventh, walking leadoff hitter Victor Martinez . But the righthander retired the next two batters before being lifted in favor of Luis Vizcaino .

With a runner on second, Aaron Boone greeted Vizcaino with an RBI single, and Blake followed with a run-scoring double, cutting the deficit to 4-3. But lefthander Damaso Marte struck out Sizemore to preserve the advantage.

"We just haven't swung the bat well," Boone said. "This time of year, we need to be better if we want to be in the postseason."

In danger of suffering their fifth loss in six games and remaining one game out of a postseason berth with one to go, the Indians staged another rally in the eighth. After Marte struck out Coco Crisp to open the inning, Jhonny Peralta singled and Travis Hafner doubled.

Martinez was walked intentionally before Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen brought in Cliff Politte , who needed just one pitch to get Belliard on a popout and two to retire Ben Broussard on a flyout.

"We've pressed with runners in scoring position," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "That's been the glaring thing over the last week. We've missed some pitches to hit."

In its last six games, Cleveland is just 6-for-49 with runners in scoring position.

"It seemed like two weeks ago, we would get guys on base and it would be a merry-go-round on the bases," Hafner said. "Now we get guys on base, but we need to throw another quarter in the merry-go-round."

"We've got to do something different," Blake added. "We're playing hard. It's frustrating when you are in the position we were in and you don't get the job done."

After wasting those chances, Cleveland had none in the ninth as Bobby Jenks set down the side in order for his sixth save.

Garland tossed 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, four hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

"I made some mistakes," Garland said. "Last week, they would have gotten to me. I don't think I pitched my best, but I can't complain."

Westbrook (15-15) worked six solid frames before melting down in the seventh. The righthander surrendered four runs, nine hits and one walk, hitting one batter and striking out two.

The Indians, who stood atop the wild card standings by 1 1/2 games on September 24, must win the final game of the season Sunday and hope the Red Sox fall to the Yankees in order to force a one-game playoff. Cleveland pins its hopes on Scott Elarton , who will face rookie Brandon McCarthy .

"We were in a great position," Hafner said. "I an stunned at what happened. Now we have to win tomorrow and hope for some help."

"We've just got to keep going," Wedge added. "We need help tomorrow, but first we've got to win. We've got our backs against the wall, but we can't put our heads down."

New York clinched its eighth straight AL East Division title Saturday with a victory over Boston.