The Boston Red Sox won an important game on Wednesday as they took care of business against the Athletics and maintained playoff position in a competitive wild card race.

But the win did not come easily. Veteran starter Lucas Giolito gave up four earned runs on five hits in just over four innings, digging a hole that the Red Sox were eventually able to overcome.

And even though it wasn't his best performance, those four innings were enough for Giolito to activate a major change in his contract.

"By completing four innings in Boston's 5-4, walk-off victory, Giolito went over the 140-inning mark and converted a club option for next season into a mutual option, effectively guaranteeing that he will hit free agency," Chris Cotillo reported for MassLive . "Barring a late contract extension

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