Just minutes after the Blue Jays bullpen yakked up a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Monday’s 5-4 walk-off loss to the Cincinnati Reds , Boston closer Aroldis Chapman came out to protect a two-run lead over the Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park. The big left-hander got three outs on five pitches, securing a 6-4 win that drew the Red Sox to within 2 1/2 games of the Jays in the American League East.

It was a stark, almost painful illustration of the difference between the two teams.

The Red Sox have the best record in the American League since manhandling the Jays 15-1 at Fenway Park on June 28 , one of only three Boston wins in the 10 meetings between the teams this season.

Over that span, Chapman, who was once suspended 30 games for “use of a firearm and the impact of tha

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