Red Sox rally against Nationals to keep up the pace of the Wild Cards

After a 5-3 win over the Nationals on Saturday, the Sox now have that satisfying reality heading into Sunday: They win this game and they will host the AL Wild Card Game on Tuesday.

This, after the Yankees lost for the second straight day at home to the Rays. Boston and New York hold identical records of 91-70, but the Red Sox own the tiebreaker by beating rivals, 10-9, in the season series. The Blue Jays (90-71) and Mariners (89-71, and play later on Saturday) both remain in the thick of it, poised to wreak havoc on the final day if the Red Sox and / or Yankees give them the opportunity. .

To get to such an enviable place, the Red Sox had a decisive and much-needed rally at the top of the ninth, sparked by a triple RBI from Christian Vázquez who broke a 1-1 tie.