AL East Notes: Yankees run, Red Sox lineup

The New York Yankees are on quite the run, even after selling off major pieces at the deadline. Now, they are relying on some odd, written-off pieces to help fuel this run further. Bryan Mitchell, who fractured a toe during spring training, pitched wonderful for five scoreless innings.

Then the Yankees brought it Luis Severino for three relief innings and they moved to within 2 and a half games of the second AL wild-card spot.

More from around the American League East:

• In the early part of the season, the Red Sox lineup was thriving and it was because of depth. Now, they are struggling and it is because of the bottom of the lineup. Jackie Bradley Jr. is struggling, third base is giving them little production and they are sorely missing Andrew Benintendi.
• The Rays ugly 7-3 loss was just a part of a day filled with major developments, including the news that shortstop Matt Duffy will need season-ending surgery on his Achilles.
• It’s not impossible. The Orioles are still in the mix to win the AL East title.\
• Throughout the tough 2016 season, Dalton Pompey leaned on somebody for a lot of support: his mom.

Standings ‘as of writing’:

Boston 78-61 — GB

Toronto 77-62 1.0 GB

Baltimore 76-63 2.0 GB

NY Yankees 73-65 4.5 GB

Tampa Bay 59-79 18.5 GB