 In 2011 , the Red Sox went 12 – 6 against the Yankees , including beating Yankees ace CC Sabathia four times during the season and sweeping two three @-@ game sets at Yankee Stadium , the only sets of three games of more where the Yankees have been swept at home since it opened in 2009 . Critics and writers forecasted overwhelmingly that the Red Sox would win the 2011 World Series easily . The Red Sox spent a great deal to build the team in the off @-@ season , and were about to sell at least two Red Sox as Most Valuable Player candidates by mid season . Following a disastrous first month , the Red Sox climbed in the standings . The Yankees claimed the AL East crown after the Red Sox 's September struggles left them battling for the wild @-@ card with the Rays , with whom they went into the season 's final game tied . On September 28 , the Tampa Bay Rays staged a dramatic comeback from 7 – 0 to win 8 – 7 over the Yankees in the 12th inning . Only three minutes earlier , Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon blew a 3 – 2 lead over the Orioles in the bottom of the 9th inning , handing a 4 – 3 walk @-@ off victory to the Orioles . The Rays claimed the AL Wild Card and eliminated the Red Sox from the post @-@ season . It marked the first time in baseball history that a 9 @-@ game lead had been blown in September , becoming the worst collapse in baseball history . Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe said that " the greatest choke in baseball history ... feels like revenge for 2004 and 2007 . " Yankee fans everywhere rejoiced , as it was a greater collapse than the 1978 Red Sox , as well as 2004 . 
