It was only a week ago that the dream seemed possible. The Red Sox had crept within eight games of the Yankees in the AL East, having bludgeoned them in the first three games of a four-game set at Fenway Park.
Now, it seems like a fantasy. The Red Sox haven’t won since last Saturday night’s victory over the Yankees, losing five straight games and falling 11.5 games behind their blood rivals in the AL East and a whopping 13 games back in the loss column.
“They understand where we’re at. You got to be realistic and know where we’re at in the division and obviously where we are in the wild card,” Boston manager Alex Cora said Saturday, before the two teams met for a day-night doubleheader in The Bronx following the Yankees’ 4-2 win Friday night.