Green Monster standings tell the story for Red Sox

BOSTON --- The standings posted on the Green Monster offered Boston a sobering reality upon its return home.

The Red Sox are now closer to Toronto in the American League East than they are to New York. Boston is 14½ games behind the Yankees after a four-game weekend sweep in the Bronx. The Blue Jays sit 14 games adrift of the Red Sox and 28½ games out of first place.

"Like I said yesterday, we know where we’re at," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. [...]

BOSTON --- The standings posted on the Green Monster offered Boston a sobering reality upon its return home.

The Red Sox are now closer to Toronto in the American League East than they are to New York. Boston is 14½ games behind the Yankees after a four-game weekend sweep in the Bronx. The Blue Jays sit 14 games adrift of the Red Sox and 28½ games out of first place.

“Like I said yesterday, we know where we’re at,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “It’s not hiding. Whatever in the wild card, whatever in the division – we’ve got to come here and win series. That’s the bottom line.”

Cora and Boston’s players have maintained a consistent public message throughout their eight-game losing streak and fade from playoff contention. The Red Sox entered Monday 6½ games behind Tampa Bay for the second A.L. wild card spot. Boston’s 7-4 setback against the Yankees on Sunday night was its 55th of the season, eclipsing its total from the 2018 regular season.

“Last year is last year,” Xander Bogaerts said. “It was pretty special in its own way. Obviously this year we would love to have the same season or even better. That’s not the way it has been so far.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25