The Red Sox aren’t exactly shoo-ins for the playoffs. But they managed to make things a tiny bit easier on themselves last night.
Boston overcame another atrocious start by John Lackey to beat the Orioles 18-9 in the late game of a day-night doubleheader, keeping their wild-card lead over the Rays at two games.
Tampa Bay was idle.
Boston lost the day’s first game 6-5, thanks to a blown “foul” call on a would-be double by David Ortiz. That temporarily knocked their wild-card lead to a scant 1.5 games.
They fell into a hole early in the nightcap, as Lackey surrendered three runs in the top of the first. But the bats — seemingly their last hope to salvage the season — got to work, with four runs in the first, two in the second and five in the third.
The Sox and Rays both play tonight.
