BOSTON — When it mattered the most, the Red Sox buried the Yankees, danced on fresh graves and left their blood rivals looking at the wild-card entrance to October.
The Yankees entered Fenway Park on Aug. 2 trailing the Red Sox in the AL East race by 6 ½ and got swept in four games.
Even though they never publicly admitted it, the Yankees then began thinking about the wild-card race, which included the A’s and Mariners.
Aaron Boone’s club won that race and will host the A’s on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium in the biggest game of the year.