The Indians may well have accomplished a psychological win if nothing else in splitting four games in Boston, especially considering that they well could have won three of the games, or even swept, with a timely hit here or a fly ball a few feet shorter there.
Now the Tribe is off to Texas for three games, but what about the rest of the contenders in the Major Leagues?
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The American League still has eight teams at least within ten games of their division lead, and thus, for the sake of argument, still in contention.
Starting first with the Indians' division, the Tigers (59-52) have a three-game lead over Cleveland (55-54), and while the Tribe spends the weekend in Texas against the Rangers, Detroit heads to Kansas City.
Let us hope that the Royals can do to Detroit what they did to the Indians last weekend -- take two of three (at least).
The White Sox (52-58, 6.5 games behind) have lost six straight, but have to be considered still in the hunt. Chicago will take on the Twins (51-60, 8 games behind) this weekend in Minnesota.
The AL East truly is a two-team race, with the Red Sox and the Yankees tied at 68-42, and getting ready to play each other this weekend in Boston.
Nobody else in the East is within ten games of the lead -- or for the Wild Card, which is also a tie at the moment between Boston and New York.
Even more than in the East, the AL West is a two-team battle, with the Rangers (62-50) a game up on the Angels (61-51). While the Rangers deal with the Indians this weekend, Los Angeles will be home to take on the Mariners.
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As does the American League, the National League also has eight teams "in contention" according to my parameters.
The NL East is pretty much a one-team race now, with the Phillies (72-39) a full 8.5 games up on the Braves (64-48).
But it is Atlanta that leads in the NL Wild Card chase by 2.5 games over the Diamondbacks (61-50), so a large deficit for a division title is not so daunting to the Braves as of now.
The NL Central is seeing some separation, but four teams have to be considered still in the race.
The Brewers (62-50) lead the Cardinals (59-53) by three games, and then there is a drop-off to the Pirates (54-56, 7 games behind and losers of seven in a row) and the Reds (54-57, 7.5 games behind).
The NL West is a two-team battle between the Giants (62-50) and Arizona, which resides just a half-game behind the defending champs.
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Be sure to check back on Monday, when we take a look at where things stand entering the second week in August.