If the Red Sox keep playing like this, though, it threatens to be an awfully short October — assuming they qualify. The Sox dropped another stunner, 4-3, in 11 innings to the Orioles, after leaving the bases loaded in the eighth, ninth, and 10th innings.

One of their best hitters limped to his locker this afternoon and back to the trainers’ room, leaving behind a walking boot for his injured right ankle. The two-time All-Star catcher was scratched from the lineup with discomfort in his right side.

Samuel Basallo drove in the go-ahead run on a groundout in the 11th inning and the Baltimore Orioles held on to beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth.