By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
BALTIMORE -- What looked to be decided a month ago will, instead, go all the way to the final game of the regular season. And perhaps beyond.
Behind two homers and four RBI from rookie catcher Ryan Lavarnway, making his first career start by the plate, the Red Sox bashed the Baltimore Orioles, 8-7, to remain tied for the American League Wild Card with the Tampa Bay Rays.
If both teams win or both lose Wednesday night, the final regular season game, the teams will play a tiebreaking game Thursday afternoon at Tropicana Field. If one team wins while the other loses, it will win the wild card spot outright.
Lavarnway, filling in for injured catchers Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek, smacked a three-run homer in the fourth and added a solo shot in the eighth.
Jacoby Ellsbury had given the Red Sox their first lead of the night with a two-run homer in the third, his fourth homer in the last four games. Marco Scutaro chipped in with a two-run homer in the sixth, as all eight Red Sox runs were scored on homers.
Erik Bedard lasted just 3 23 innings against his former team, though he struck out six while allowing three runs. Alfredo Aceves then got the Sox through the seventh, allowing just one run in 3 13 innings.
Boston Red Sox
The O's scored twice in the eighth off Daniel Bard and once more off Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth before Papelbon held on for his 31st save.
The win was just Boston's second in the last six games against Baltimore.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam.