Why Red Sox Win Over Rays Was Particularly Important

The Boston Red Sox have played themselves into the playoff conversation. With 66 games left to play, they’re five games back in the American League East, and one game ahead of the third Wild Card spot.

The team is on fire, having won nine straight games. The three most recent wins have come against divisional rivals in the Tampa Bay Rays.

While each win counts the same, Saturday’s win over Tampa was slightly more meaningful. With the win, the Red Sox are now 7-2 against the Rays this season.

By winning the game, the Red Sox clinched the tiebreaker over their division rival. The two teams play 13 times this season, meaning the best record the Rays can produce is 7-6.

There are still two and a half months of baseball to be played, but the Red Sox and Rays look like they could be locked in a playoff chase in September. If Tampa wins the remaining four games, it will be detrimental to the quest for the wild card in terms of standings, but the seventh win is effectively a half game.

Brayan Bello takes the mound for the Red Sox on Sunday, while Ryan Pepiot toes the rubber for the Rays.

Pepiot struggled against Boston earlier this season. He threw six innings, but allowed six runs on nine hits and only struck out two hitters. Since the beginning of June, Pepiot has a 3.52 ERA over seven starts.