At Beginning Of Final Playoff Push, Orioles Beat Red Sox

So remember all that talk about the Red Sox still not being out of the playoff race despite losing a series to the Rays? Remember how there were many of us who said, "Hey, this team isn't mathematically eliminated. They can still pull it off!" Remember when we had at least an ounce of hope?

Gone. All gone. Forget about all of that.

The Red Sox dropped a game to the Orioles Tuesday night, 5-2. They might as well have dropped the season, too, because if you need to make the playoffs and you are desperate to win games, then you must beat the Orioles. You must ... beat ... the Orioles.

Josh Beckett allowed two runs over seven innings, but who really cares since it came against the Orioles? This really has no indication on Beckett now, next week or next year. Try this against the Rays, Josh, and we'll talk again.

Felix Doubront is tonight's goat who gave up two runs in the 8th inning. Both runs were solo shots from Luke Scott and Felix Pie. The Sox were down just 3-2 at that point, but those solo shots seemed like grand slams anyway.

Jed Lowrie wound up with two-run home run and a single. Thanks for providing the offense, J. Victor Martinez had two hits ... and that's all there really was on the positive side of things. David Oritz struck out three times against O's starter Brian Matusz.

Jon Lester starts for the Sox tomorrow. At least he still has a chance to win something -- the Cy Young.