• Boston Red Sox collapse, miss playoffs, Tampa Bay Rays win AL wild card

    Patrick Semansky / AP

    Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Aviles sits in the dugout after Boston's 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, in Baltimore. Boston was eliminated from the playoffs after the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees in extra innings minutes after Boston's loss.

    Chris O'meara / AP

    Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria, center, celebrates with teammates Sean Rodriguez, left, and Elliot Johnson after his home run that defeated the New York Yankees 8-7 and clinched the AL wild card for the Rays, after a baseball game early Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

    Joe Giza / Reuters

    Baltimore Orioles base runner Nolan Reimold (R) slides across home plate safely with the game winning run as Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway reaches for the late throw in the ninth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland September 28, 2011.

    Rob Carr / Getty Images

    Members of the Baltimore Orioles swarm Nolan Reimold #14 after he scored the winning run to defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland.

    AP reports:

    BALTIMORE - The Boston Red Sox completed their September collapse in horrific and historic fashion, falling out of the playoff chase by allowing two ninth-inning runs in a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

    The Red Sox held a nine-game lead in the AL wild-card race after Sept. 3, but a 7-19 swoon left them tied with Tampa Bay entering the final day of the regular season.

    Only minutes after this game ended, the Rays completed their comeback from a 7-0 deficit with an 8-7 win over the New York Yankees in 12 innings. Full story.