It is tempting, in the afterglow of a 10-0 win in which Clay Buchholz worked seven shutout innings and the Red Sox walloped six home runs, to believe that all is swell and that the Texas Rangers are destined to disappear in the rear-view mirror.

Well, such happy thoughts need to come with a large disclaimer: The Baltimore Orioles, victims of Tuesday night’s rout, look like a ballclub more concerned with setting up their October tee times than in gamely playing out the string. It is not coincidental that Buchholz’s legendary no-hitter came at Fenway against the Orioles as they mailed in the final month of the 2007 season. It may be premature to suggest that the promise we have seen in Buchholz for three seasons has morphed into reality.

Meanwhile, distasteful as Red Sox fans may find it, the Yankees have pretty much driven the final stake through Tampa Bay’s already fading chances of challenging for the wild-card. Tuesday night’s walk-off win in the Bronx left the Rays 8½ games behind Boston. By the time they get to Fenway this weekend, they’ll be playing out the string too – without Carlos Pena, out for the season after having two fingers broken Monday night against the Yankees.

The Yankees may be set to do New Englanders another favor – apparently, they have some interest in signing Brad Penny.

Tags: Brad Penny, Carlos Pena, Clay Buchholz, Orioles, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees