Crimson Sox rally 3 runs right down to stroll off Tigers, safe playoff spot

“A very powerful factor: We’re in.”

Wilyer Abreu celebrates with teammates after defeating the Tigers to advance to the postseason. (AP Photograph/Greg M. Cooper) AP

By JIMMY GOLEN, Related Press

September 27, 2025 | 1:09 AM

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Crimson Sox clinch playoff berth for first time since 2021 by way of Ceddanne Rafaela walk-off hit

BOSTON (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela despatched a line drive deep to middle area, and Romy Gonzalez hesitated between first and second to verify it wasn’t caught.

The remainder of the Boston Crimson Sox didn’t trouble ready.

Streaming out of the dugout to greet Gonzalez when he circled round to house plate with the successful run, the Crimson Sox celebrated their return to the postseason on Friday night time after a 4-3, walk-off victory over the skidding Detroit Tigers. One other cluster gathered round Rafaela at third.

Boston (88-72) moved two video games forward of Detroit and three video games forward of Houston within the race for the final two American League wild-card spots. The Astros misplaced to the Los Angeles Angels later Friday night time.

Boston will play the best-of-three first spherical on the highway, at both New York, Toronto, Cleveland or Detroit.

“A very powerful factor: We’re in,” Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated in his workplace, throughout the corridor from the clubhouse the place his gamers have been showering one another with glowing wine and beer. “We simply have fun tonight, and , we’ll see the place we’re tomorrow.”

Boston would have clinched a playoff berth even with a loss as a result of Houston additionally misplaced. Ace Garrett Crochet, who is predicted to start out Sport 1 of the wild-card spherical, stated there have been no plans for the crew to hold round Fenway Park to have fun if the Angels beat the Astros.

“I didn’t have shedding on my thoughts in any respect. I used to be targeted on right now and the sport that we have been enjoying,” Crochet stated. “We’re dealing with the duty at hand and controlling what we will management.”

The Crimson Sox have missed the postseason for 3 straight seasons, they usually haven’t gone 4 years in a row with out playoffs — when there have been playoffs — since 1985. Their 2021 run to the AL Championship Sequence had been their solely postseason look since their 2018 World Sequence title.

“We didn’t come right here to play solely 162. We got here right here to win the World Sequence,” Cora informed his gamers within the clubhouse earlier than uncorking the primary bottle of glowing wine. “Let’s (expletive) go!”

Boston trailed 3-0 within the fourth inning however made it 3-2 within the seventh on Rafaela’s double that went off the highest of the Inexperienced Monster. The Crimson Sox tied it within the eighth on Jarren Duran’s RBI single after which Gonzalez singled with one out within the ninth.

Rafaela hit a 1-0 pitch to straightaway middle. Heart fielder Parker Meadows leaped on the wall however couldn’t get the ball and it bounced towards proper area.

The rally set off a celebration in sold-out Fenway Park, as gamers returned to the sector of their “October Baseball” T-shirts and posed for a crew image in entrance of the Inexperienced Monster. Within the clubhouse, they donned goggles and soaked one another with bubbly and beer.

“I’ve bought nothing however perception on this group,” stated rookie Roman Anthony, whose harm stalled the playoff run however has an opportunity to return in October — if his teammates can preserve it going lengthy sufficient. “I’m making an attempt to remain constructive and be the perfect cheerleader I could be.”

Cora stated he was happy to clinch with two video games remaining, in order that the Crimson Sox can get their pitching lined up for the three-game wild-card sequence that begins on Tuesday. Lucas Giolito will now not pitch Sunday so he can begin Sport 2.

“It’s essential to care for some guys,” Cora stated. “The pitching employees, we now have to verify we’re on level, going into subsequent week.”

It was the primary time in at the very least a century that the Crimson Sox clinched a postseason berth with a walk-off win, in response to Elias. All six of the crew’s victories of their Inexperienced Monster alternate jerseys this season have been by walk-off.

“I stated, ‘Hey, we’re sporting the inexperienced jerseys. You realize what meaning,’” Crochet stated within the Boston clubhouse. “And, finally, Rafaela delivered.”