Aaaand we're back to three

Rays starter Jeff Niemann turned in another solid performance as Tampa Bay beat Boston 4-3 to reduce the Sox's wild card cushion to three games.

With Wake on the mound Sunday against David Price, Joe Maddon may end up getting his wish and leave Boston only 2 games back.

Got to hand it to the Rays, they've owned the Sox all season and coming to Fenway doesn't back them off a bit now. I could do without all the whiny nonsense about umpire favoritism and such, but you can't dismiss how the guys up their game against Boston time and again.

Tampa Bay was nine or ten games behind at the start of September, and like I said, I don't know if this is epic or historic or what, but if the Rays can overcome the Sox and make the wild card based almost soley on pitching -- that's just got to be seen as something amazing!

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A side note: I don't want to rain on Ron Artest's parade, but his name change to "Metta World Peace" . . . sorry Ron it's been done already -- meet World B.Free:

NBA stats:
1975-1991
17,955 career points (20.3 ppg)
2430 career rebounds (2.7 rpg)
3319 career assists (3.7 apg)