The Red Sox have spent most of the season in first place or tied for first in the American League East. Entering last weekend, they had spent just six days out of first place, and two of those were the first two days of the season. The bats dried up in dropping two of three to the White Sox, however, and the Red Sox fell out of first place on Friday.
They were just a half-game behind the Yankees as they began a 10-game road trip to Baltimore, Seattle and Minnesota on Monday, but the 2-0 win over the Orioles in 12 innings felt bigger than a win over the Orioles should feel.