Bob Dechiara/USA Today Sports, via Reuters
BOSTON — On Monday morning, the Yankees woke up with the biggest division lead in the American League, at eight and a half games, over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees had just salvaged a 9-6 victory the night before in an otherwise lopsided four-game series against their surging rival, the Boston Red Sox, who trailed the Rays by half a game. But throughout much of the weekend, the difference between the Red Sox and Yankees didn’t feel quit so large.
Consider this: Entering Monday’s games, the 59-48 Red Sox were averaging 5.