After 158 games, the Red Sox are still mathematically in the race. That means there is at least one scenario in which the Red Sox clinch the third wild card spot. Given the complicated tiebreakers and the various permutations of how the season could end, there are likely multiple scenarios. Regardless, if we want to see the Red Sox in the postseason, winning the remaining games is the first step.

Tonight, Alex Cora kept that in mind. Brayan Bello wasn’t at his best, was about 1.5 mph slower with his sinker and failed to spot his changeup regularly. He struggled through four innings and conceded two runs before Cora decided he’d seen enough. Earlier in the season, he might have let Bello decide on the mound. Tonight, he couldn’t give Bello the opportunity to do that and went to the bullpen early.

That being said, after a 75-pitch outing, I wonder if we’ll see Brayan Bello out of the bullpen when it really counts.

Lucas Sims, Justin Slaten, the Luis G’s (Garcia and Guerrero) and Chris Martin combined to pitch the final five innings of regulation baseball, allowing just one run, but for most of the evening it looked like the offense would remain inactive.

In the seventh inning, Vaughn Grissom and Wilyer Abreu drew two-out walks, followed by two-out singles by Danny Jansen and Ceddane Rafaela. The singles brought in two runs, but Duran struck out and left two runners standing, ending the inning. In the eighth inning, the Sox scored another run to tie the game.

After an uneventful ninth inning, the tenth inning nearly started with disaster when Romy Gonzalez hit a line drive. Fortunately, Jarren Duran is quick on his feet and was able to get to second base before suffering a double off. Triston Casas was intentionally forced into a walk and the oft-maligned Trevor Story hit a double into the gap, scoring the first run of the inning. Alex Cora continued to empty his bench, bringing Mickey Gasper into the lineup to run for Casas, who made it to third base with a double. This move immediately proved fruitful as Wong hit a ground ball to shortstop, who hit a home run but was too far wide to catch Gasper. After that, Vaughn Grissom continued his great day as a hitter, scoring the third run of the inning with a single.

The second part of the tenth inning was an adventure, with the Blue Jays scoring two runs and driving the tying run to third base, but a combination of Zach Penrod and Chase Shuggart was able to shut the door and secure the win. Elsewhere, the Twins fell to the Marlins while the Royals ended their seven-game losing streak. Both teams need to keep losing for the Red Sox to have any chance of making the playoffs, although taking care of business and finding a way to win the final four games is the first priority.

Three bolts

Vaughn Grissom (3-4, BB, SB, RBI)

Trevor Story (2-5, RBI)

Romy Gonzalez (1-5)

Gameplay

You probably don’t remember the play, or maybe you didn’t even notice. To start the eighth inning, Romy Gonzalez singled to first. Casas hit a ball back to center for a single of his own. He hit great, but Gonzalez’s baserunning was fantastic. He read the bat excellently and used his speed to get from first to third. Masataka Yoshida was then grounded out, and Gonzalez tied the game easily. Vaughn Grissom hit a single that probably would have scored Gonzalez anyway, but who knows how he pitched with the tying point on third base with two outs. Great job, Romy.