Since 2003, no team in baseball has had a better interleague record than the Red Sox' 97-50 mark. They've had a winning record in each of the last six seasons, going no worse than 11-7 in that span.
And if not for interleague, the white flag might've been raised many weeks earlier than it was in 2010.
When the meetings with the NL began last year, Boston was 22-20 and 8 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East. The injuries had yet to become a major issue, so there was concern that the club just wasn’t quite up to snuff.
By the time interleague play was done, culminating in a 13-5 record for the Red Sox, they were 46-31 and two games out of first. That margin would be reduced to a half game in a matter of days before the injuries began to take their toll and the team faded.
Overall, Boston was just eight games above .500 against the AL, matching its margin vs. the NL.
This time around, nobody in the majors is playing better baseball than the Red Sox, who get to take their hacks at a run of teams that includes San Diego, Pittsburgh and Houston. In 2010, interleague play helped Boston stick around. In 2011, it presents an opportunity for the club pull away.
