The Tampa Bay Rays won an 18-inning game against Baltimore last Friday and did not look back, winning six more games in a row and, in the process, building a small lead in the battle for the two American League wild-card spots.
But that run ended Friday night in Toronto, where the Rays lost, 6-3. They also forfeited the one-game margin they had held over the Cleveland Indians, who continued their streak of the last two weeks, in which they have won every game they have played against a losing team.
And this one was over early, sort of. Playing in Minneapolis, the Indians jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the Twins in the second inning, withstood some pushback and came away with a 12-6 victory. As a result, the Indians and the Rays are now tied for the wild-card lead, with the Texas Rangers just a game behind.
The Rangers won their fifth in a row, all at home, beating the Los Angeles Angels, 5-3. Texas took a 3-1 lead, let the Angels tie it when the former Rangers star Josh Hamilton hit a two-run single but then went back ahead with a two-run rally in the seventh.
So with two games to go for each of the wild-card contenders, and only Texas playing at home, the chances of a three-way tie at the end of the regular season on Sunday are seeming more likely.
That has never happened before, but then again, the two-wild-card-spots-in-each-league format started only a year ago. If there is a three-way tie, Tampa Bay will play at Cleveland on Monday, with the winner earning one of the two wild-card spots and the loser playing Tuesday at Texas. The winner of that game would earn the second wild-card berth.
The two wild-card teams would then play Wednesday, with the winner advancing (staggering?) into a first-round, five-game series against the A.L. division winner with the best win-loss record from the regular season.
Meanwhile, there are two games to go. Here is a breakdown of the three teams now taking this race to the wire.
TAMPA BAY, 90-70 The Rays are normally a solid defensive team, but their three errors on Friday night — two by Evan Longoria — helped end their seven-game winning streak. The bad fielding may have been a sign of weariness, but the Rays are still in a good position to make it to October.
CLEVELAND, 90-70 Who, before the season began, could have pictured the Indians winning 90 games? That's exactly where they are, though, modest roster or not. They banged out 17 hits on Friday night and look relentless, at least against teams under .500.
TEXAS, 89-71 One game behind, with two games to go. Last year, the Rangers lost the wild-card playoff game to Baltimore. Will they get another shot?
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