Finally, Some Drama!
The Red Sox need a 2-2 split or better in these four games with Tampa to clinch. For the first time in the Wild Card era, we have doubt at this late moment in the season.
Baseball rules.
UPDATE and apology: "Clinch" is not accurate. I made the classically stupid error of repeating something without checking it. If the Sox escape this series with a split, Tampa will be four games back with 10 games to play. So it would still be difficult for Tampa to win, but as we see, increasingly not impossible. I regret the error, and apologize.
Baseball rules.
UPDATE and apology: "Clinch" is not accurate. I made the classically stupid error of repeating something without checking it. If the Sox escape this series with a split, Tampa will be four games back with 10 games to play. So it would still be difficult for Tampa to win, but as we see, increasingly not impossible. I regret the error, and apologize.