And they live to fight another day...

A 2-run homer in the 6th from Manny, a solo shot to tie it in the 8th for Ortiz, and then Ortiz singles in Damon in the 9th for the Red Sox win. Cleveland and New York have already won, and Chicago's wrapped up the central, so this is where we stand, with 3 games left.

Indians - 3 home games against Chicago, who'll be resting people.

Red Sox and Yankees - 3 games in Boston.

There are 16 possible results from the remaining 6 relevant games. Here are the different play-in/play-off scenarios:

Play-off Scenarios

Red Sox	Indians	Result
3-0	3-0, 2-1	Boston wins East, Cleveland wins WC
	1-2	Boston wins East, Cleveland/NY play 1-game play-off for WC
	0-3	Boston wins East, New York wins WC
2-1	3-0	Cleveland wins WC, Boston/NY play 1-game play-off for East
	2-1	Boston/NY play-off for the East, Cleveland plays loser for WC
	1-2, 0-3	New York wins East, Boston wins WC
1-2	3-0, 2-1	New York wins East, Cleveland wins WC
	1-2	New York wins East, Boston/Cleveland play 1-game play-off for WC
	0-3	New York wins East, Boston wins WC
0-3	3-0, 2-1, 1-2	New York wins East, Cleveland wins WC
	0-3	New York wins East, Boston/Cleveland play 1-game play-off for WC

Obviously, going 3-0 is what they're looking for. 2-1 guarantees that they at least get a play-in game on Monday, either at NY for the East, or at Fenway against the Indians for the Wild Card. 1-2 or 0-3, and they need lots of help (that they're unlikely to get) from the White Sox, who are setting up their pitching and resting players for next week. Of course, 1-2 or 0-3 means that they don't deserve to go to the post-season anyway...