In a matter of minutes, Jonathan Papelbon blows a game, the Rays get a winning homer and yes, that’s that.

Only minutes after this game ended, the Rays completed their comeback from a 7-0 deficit with an 8-7 victory against the New York Yankees in 12 innings.

BALTIMORE — The Boston Red Sox celebrated a rare September victory for about 20 minutes before turning their attention toward their next game – the last and most important of the 162-game schedule . . .

Boston falls to Baltimore 6-3 to drop into a tie with Tampa Bay for the American League wild-card playoff berth.

The pitching is in shambles. The hitting is spotty. And the defense?

The Boston Red Sox are dropping the ball there, too.

In less than three weeks, they’ve bumbled their way from a smooth ride to the playoffs to a trip toward a spot on the list of historic collapses. And somehow during their wacky September, they still have the inside track on a postseason berth.

The Orioles rally late, this time against ace Josh Beckett, to deal the Red Sox’s wild-card chances yet another blow.