By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

It was the one that got away.

In a Red Sox season filled with ups and downs, a depleted roster that takes up an entire hospital wing and gutsy performances from the most unlikely suspects, the entire thing could come down to one horrible inning.

Carrying a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning in Toronto on Thursday, Boston was set to sweep the Blue Jays and head into its tough series in Texas just three games behind the Rays in the wild card and four and a half back of the Yankees in the division.

Instead, Jonathan Papelbon decided to employ his Jekyll and Hyde act again — something Red Sox fans have seen far too often in 2010 — and the Sox ended up losing on a walk-off sacrifice fly, 6-5.

The Red Sox gave up a full game in the race, something they can’t afford to do when they’re chasing the two best teams in baseball.

As for the Rays, who lead Boston by a comfortable four games in the wild card race — they got to look forward to a nice three-game set at home over the weekend against the last-place Orioles. And while Baltimore has been hot since Buck Showalter took over, Tampa Bay pretty much couldn’t ask for an easier upcoming series.

Then Friday the 13th happened, and it couldn’t have been less in the Red Sox’ favor. In the fourth, up 8-2, the Sox slowly began to blow their lead taking the game into extra innings. Tim Wakefield threw one pitch, giving up a walk-off homer in the 11th and the game.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Jacoby Ellsbury re-injured his ribs.

The Red Sox might have needed to not just win the series against the Rangers — an already difficult task — they might have needed to sweep it. That opportunity is already gone.

Luckily, the Rays lost last night too. The Orioles shut them out them 5-0. It’s possible that the Rays give the Sox a gift by losing at least two-of-three now. With Dustin Pedroia due to come back next week, the Red Sox could quickly jump into playoff position by the end of the month.

But, if Boston can’t pick up the rest of the series, the Red Sox could quickly become an afterthought. Every series for Boston is huge for the remainder of the season, but it’s hard to have any expectations for this team — positive or negative — with the way this year has played out.

Fans just have to sit back, watch and pray their team gets it together for the final six weeks.

That, and Jonathan Papelbon has to find his right arm. The good one, I mean.

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