Red Sox Clinch Playoffs
Red Sox Rally Past Tigers to Clinch First Postseason Berth Since 2021
Boston — The Red Sox are back in October baseball. Trailing 3-0 early, Boston stormed back with runs in each of the final three innings to edge the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, officially ending a three-year postseason drought.
The victory improved Boston to 88-72, locking up a playoff spot. For Detroit, now 86-74, the loss was their ninth in 10 games and tightened an already razor-thin race in the American League Central. The Tigers remain tied with the Guardians (86-74), though Cleveland owns the head-to-head tiebreaker despite falling 7-3 to Texas.
The Tigers still cling to a one-game advantage over the Astros (85-75) for the final AL wild card. Houston lost 4-3 to the Angels late Friday, keeping Detroit narrowly in control of its postseason fate. Importantly, the Tigers also hold the tiebreaker over Houston — and could even secure the second wild card if they finish tied with Boston by winning out this weekend.
Boston’s walk-off magic struck again in the ninth inning. Romy Gonzalez lined a one-out single and came around to score the deciding run, giving the Red Sox their 12th walk-off win of the season, tying for the second-most in franchise history.
Ceddanne Rafaela (2-for-4) provided two extra-base hits, while Masataka Yoshida fueled the comeback with a 3-for-4 night, driving in a run and scoring another.
Veteran closer Aroldis Chapman (5-3) survived a ninth-inning scare, stranding the go-ahead run on third after a leadoff double, to earn the win.
Boston began its rally in the seventh when Yoshida singled and scored on Nathaniel Lowe’s sacrifice fly after Rafaela’s double. In the eighth, Carlos Narvaez singled, and pinch runner Nate Eaton stole second, then reached third on an errant throw. Jarren Duran delivered the game-tying RBI hit to left.
The Tigers had their chances. Casey Mize struck out eight and allowed just two runs over 6 1/3 innings, while Spencer Torkelson, Dillon Dingler, and Javier Báez each recorded two hits. But reliever Tommy Kahnle (1-5) gave up two hits in the ninth, including the game-winner.
Boston starter Kyle Harrison dazzled early, striking out six over three scoreless frames, but was chased in the fourth after Detroit’s three-run outburst. Báez opened the scoring with an RBI single before Jahmai Jones laced a two-run double.
The Red Sox bullpen — led by Justin Slaten and Steven Matz — stopped the bleeding and set the stage for another Fenway Park finish to remember.
With one weekend left, Boston is in. Detroit, meanwhile, faces a nerve-wracking final push as the Central and wild-card races remain up for grabs.
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