LYNCHBURG -- The champagne will have to keep at least one more day.

Lynchburg's Jeff Locke and Ronald Uviedo combined for a four-hit shutout as the Hillcats beat Salem 1-0 and prevent the Red Sox from clinching a Carolina League playoff spot at City Stadium on Sunday night.

The Red Sox (34-35) are a game ahead of Kinston (33-36) with only today's games left to play in the regular season. At worst, Salem will be forced to play a one-game tiebreaker with the Indians at Salem Memorial Ballpark on Tuesday.

A win today, or a Kinston loss, would put the Red Sox in the best-of-five Southern Division playoffs against Winston-Salem, beginning Wednesday in Winston-Salem, N.C.

"This is gonna be fun," said Salem pitcher Eammon Portice, who allowed just one unearned run Sunday. "It's going to get interesting."

The Sox knew Kinston had won earlier in the day, and Portice said he was glad of it.

"It's funner this way," Portice said. "We're more fired up."

Salem remains tied with Winston-Salem (34-35) for the Southern Division second-half title. But Salem manager Chad Epperson said making the playoffs is the bigger focus, and he doesn't care how the Sox manage to do it. He'd be fine with making the playoffs by a Kinston loss.

"Some people say you don't want to back into it, you don't want to get in that way," Epperson said. "But if you get in, you get in. I'll take it."

Locke, a lefty, gave up four hits through 6 ²₃ innings. Only designated hitter Tim Federowicz hit him twice, earning a single and a double.

Uviedo came on after Federowicz's two-out double in the seventh and sent seven straight Salem hitters right back to the dugout to complete the shutout.

The lone chip on Portice came in the first inning when Chase d'Arnaud led off with a double. d'Arnaud went to third when a pitch got away from catcher Danny Butler, who was making his first Carolina League start after joining the team from short-season Lowell on Sept. 2.

Portice struck out Josh Harrison, but d'Arnaud came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Jordy Mercer.

"Sometimes all it takes is that one mistake," Portice said.

Portice struck out six and didn't allow a walk in six innings. He gave up six hits.

The Hillcats twice had chances to add to their lead, but both times Butler held on to get outs at the plate.

In the fourth inning, Portice hit Tony Sanchez with a pitch, then Matt Hague doubled to the gap in left-center. But David Mailman fielded the ball and relay man Ryan Dent threw Sanchez out at the plate.

With two out in the seventh, Eric Fryer doubled off reliever Jason Rice and tried to score when Alex Presley singled along the right-field line. Brad Correll threw Fryer out at the plate.

The Red Sox, though, did not get a runner past second base.

"We have to tone it down a little at the plate," Epperson said. "We're trying to do too much at the plate. We have to get back to managing our at-bats. ...

"But that's the luxury of winning [Saturday] night. We have a chance to regroup."

HOW THE RUN SCORED

Lynchburg first: d'Arnaud doubled. d'Arnaud went to third on a passed ball by Dent. Harrison struck out. Mercer flied out, d'Arnaud scored. Hillcats 1, Red Sox 0.

SALEM LYNCHBURG

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Lin cf 4 0 0 0 d'Arnaud ss 4 1 1 0

Hee 3b 4 0 0 0 Harrison 2b 4 0 0 0

Rizzo 1b 4 0 0 0 Mercer 3b 3 0 1 1

Correll rf 3 0 0 0 Romak rf 3 0 1 0

Federowicz dh 3 0 2 0 Sanchez dh 2 0 0 0

Mailman lf 2 0 0 0 Hague 1b 3 0 2 0

Borowiak 2b 3 0 1 0 Keel lf 3 0 0 0

Butler c 2 0 0 0 Fryer c 3 0 2 0

Chiang ph 1 0 0 0 Presley cf 3 0 1 0

Vazquez c 0 0 0 0

Dent ss 3 0 1 0

Totals 29 0 4 0 Totals 28 1 8 1

Salem 000 000 000 -- 0

Lynchburg 100 000 00x -- 1

DP--Salem 1, Lynchburg 1. LOB--Salem 3, Lynchburg 5. 2B--Borowiak (12), Federowicz (11), d'Arnaud (19), Hague (30), Fryer (11). S--Mailman. SF--Mercer.

IP H R ER BB SO

Salem

Portice L, 8-8 6 6 1 0 0 6

Rice 2 2 0 0 0 1

Lynchburg

Locke W, 5-8 6 2-3 4 0 0 0 6

Uviedo S, 3 2 1-3 0 0 0 0 2

HBP--Sanchez (by Portice). PB--Butler (1).

Umpires: Dudones, plate: Benham, bases.

T--2:06

A--4,070.