I'm guessing Game 5 is described as "pivotal" more often than anything else. Well, it is. Win and their back is to the wall headed back to Fenway. Lose and we've got to take two-in-a-row against Scherzer and Verlander. Good luck.
But hey, we've finally got Bogaerts in the lineup! The bats kind of didn't suck last night--with some exceptions. And Jon Lester has been pretty damn excellent for us so far in the playoffs.
It's not a must-win. At least not strictly speaking. But it's as close as you're going to get in a non-elimination game.
Go Sox!