Aroldis Chapman‘s control abandoned him again Sunday night, as he blows a three-run lead and the Red Sox beat the Yankees 5-4 in ten innings. Chapman walked three for the second time in his last five appearances, and over his last six appearances he walked eight batters in five innings pitched. Sometimes a closer can get away with the walks if he has the strikeouts in his pocket. Chapman had that last night as well, but with so many good hitters on the Red Sox, he still allowed one hit and a ball in play that went for an error.

This Red Sox team strikes me a relentless. There does not appear to be a dial it down switch. They don’t take it easy, they want to win every game they play. The 1978 team was like that until they physically broke down. Alex Cora appears to make an effort to not let that happen, giving players plenty of rest. This series with the Yankees, where the Red Sox took advantage of lots of little mistakes, makes Boston in my mind the favorite going into the post-season. The sweep was a sweeping statement of the quality of this Red Sox team.