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The Boston Red Sox split a four-game set against the Cleveland Indians this past weekend, leaving them 11 games back of the AL East-leading New York Yankees and 5.5 games behind the Wild Card-leading Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays capped off back-to-back sweeps of the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins, extending their current win streak to six games.
At this point, the comeback for the Red Sox is much more difficult that just surmounting a 5.5-game deficit. They must also surpass five teams in the standings -- the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- who all currently have between 62 and 60 wins. The Red Sox stand at 57-59.
The Red Sox and New York Yankees will face off in a three-game series this weekend at Yankee Stadium, with the Red Sox desperate to find a way back into the race.
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