The Red Sox are in the midst of a playoff race and cannot afford to blow games to inferior foes like Baltimore. Thursday’s decision loomed especially large since Cowser fired a poor throw to the plate that likely would have allowed Eaton to score to tie the game.

The Red Sox and the Yankees begin an important series against one another Thursday in New York. Both teams are five games back of the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East standings, but the series is a chance for either team to make some headway between second and third place.

Recently, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred noted that the league could realign geographically. FOX Sports outlined a plan that would group four major teams.

If Major League Baseball expands to 32 teams in the future, divisions could be realigned, according to recent remarks from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.