The Crimson Sox punched their playoff ticket in wild style with a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Friday.
With the sport tied at 3-3 within the backside ninth and a runner on first for Boston, centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela hit a walk-off triple that finally gave the Crimson Sox the win — and their first postseason berth since 2021.
When requested about what was going by means of his thoughts through the essential at-bat, Rafaela mentioned he knew he was going to win the sport for Boston.
“I’m gonna end it proper there,” Rafaela mentioned on the Apple TV+ broadcast after the win.
Now boasting an 88-72 report, the Crimson Sox maintain the second American League wild-card spot and sit two video games forward of the Tigers, who sit within the third spot.
“We didn’t come right here to play 162, we got here right here to win the World Sequence,” Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora mentioned to his crew within the locker room earlier than a champagne-spraying celebration.
After Friday’s loss, the Tigers have only a 1/2 recreation lead over the Astros for the ultimate playoff spot, as they proceed to slip within the closing weeks of the common season.
Since July, Detroit has blown a 15 1/2-game result in the Guardians within the AL Central. It could develop into the biggest collapse in MLB historical past if Detroit can’t recapture the division within the final two video games, in line with ESPN.
“It’s painful,” Tigers supervisor AJ Hinch mentioned after Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the Guardians. “I’m having a tough time developing with phrases, and I do know that’s not the norm. However what I’m seeing out of our crew will not be regular. But it surely’s our actuality.”
The Tigers are 1-9 of their final 10. Cleveland is continuous its surge with a 7-3 report over the identical stretch.
