The Boston Red Sox clinched their first postseason berth since 2021 and just the team’s second in the last seven seasons.
The walk-off win was the 12th of the season for the Boston Red Sox.
Romy Gonzalez scored the game-winning run on Ceddanne Rafaela’s triple in the ninth inning.
The Boston Red Sox clinched an American League wild-card playoff berth with a thrilling 4-3 walk-off win over the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park on Friday, Sept. 26.
For the Red Sox, the playoff appearance will be the team’s first since 2021 and just its second in the last seven seasons.
The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, but were unable to add to their advantage. The Red Sox chipped away at their deficit, eventually evening up the score in the bottom of the eighth. In the ninth, Romy Gonzalez got a one-out single off the Tigers’ Tommy Kahnle. One batter later, Ceddanne Rafaela hit an 87 mph changeup from Kahnle off the center-field wall and Gonzalez raced home with the winning run.
It marked the 12th walk-off win of the season for the Red Sox.
Detroit (86-74) remains tied atop the AL Central with the Cleveland Guardians, who were defeated 7-3 Friday night by the Texas Rangers. The Guardians, however, own the tiebreaker over the Tigers. The Tigers can still secure a wild-card playoff spot, even if the Guardians win the division.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from Friday night’s Red Sox-Tigers game:
Tigers vs. Red Sox score
Tigers — 3
Red Sox — 4
Red Sox get walk-off win, clinch playoff berth
Ceddanne Rafaela’s triple in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Romy Gonzalez to give the Red Sox a thrilling 4-3 win. The Red Sox clinched a wild-card playoff berth with the victory.
Aroldis Chapman gets out of ninth inning jam
Aroldis Chapman, the seventh pitcher used by Red Sox manager Alex Cora in this game, gave up a leadoff double to Justyn-Henry Malloy. Zach McKinstry came on to pinch run and advanced to third on a groundout by Gleyber Torres.
Chapman then struck out Wenceel Pérez and Spencer Torkelson to end the top half of the inning and give the Red Sox a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth.
Red Sox tie it up in the eighth
It’s a whole new ballgame at Fenway Park, where it seems the local club has the momentum.
Carlos Narvaez led off the inning with a single. Nate Eaton came on as a pinch runner. Eaton promptly stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (he hit Eaton with the ball while trying to throw him out). A single by Jarren Duran plated Eaton, much to the delight of the Fenway faithful.
Trevor Story grounded into a double play to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Red Sox trim Tigers’ lead in seventh inning
Masataka Yoshida led off the inning with a single, and after Romy Gonzalez lined out to Spencer Torkelson at first, Ceddanne Rafaela doubled to left. With runners on second and third and one out, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch pulled Casey Mize and replaced him with right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan. Nathaniel Lowe hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Yoshida, but Wilyer Abreu grounded out to end the inning.
It’s coming down to the wire in Boston. Meanwhile in Cleveland, the Texas Rangers added three more runs to their lead and now are up 7-2 against the Guardians. That’s good news for the Tigers, who can clinch a playoff berth with a win and Houston Astros loss later Friday night.
If this score holds, both the Red Sox and Tigers will be rooting for the Los Angeles Angels against Houston, as both would just need an Angels win to clinch a wild-card spot.
Casey Mize has been sensational through six innings of work
Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Tigers — has been on point through six innings at Fenway Park. Mize has allowed just one run on four hits while striking out eight.
Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers are doing the Tigers a solid, still leading the Cleveland Guardians, 4-2, at Progressive Field.
The Tigers and Guardians entered Friday night’s play tied atop the AL Central, but Cleveland owns the tiebreaker.
Scoreboard watching: Blue Jays take lead vs. Rays
A two-run home run by Nathan Lukes in the bottom of the fifth inning gave the Blue Jays a 4-2 lead over the Rays as they attempt to win the AL East.
Over in the Bronx, the Yankees continue to lead the Orioles, 6-3, through five innings.
The Blue Jays and Yankees own identical 91-68 records entering Friday night’s games, but Toronto owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Blue Jays can clinch the division title as early as Saturday.
Red Sox get on the board
The Red Sox answered after the Tigers scored three in the top of the fourth inning by scoring their first run of the game.
Alex Bregman hit a ground-rule double to lead off the inning. A single by Masataka Yoshida scored Bregman. However, a lineout to center by Romy Gonzalez and a double play kept the Tigers on top, 3-1.
Tigers break through in fourth inning
The Tigers scored three runs in the fourth inning, and chased Red Sox starting pitcher Kyle Harrison in the process.
After Andy Ibáñez opened the inning with a walk, Dillon Dingler and Parker Meadows hit back-to-back singles. A Javier Báez single scored Ibáñez. A double by Jahmai Jones plated Dingler and Meadows. At that point, Red Sox manager Alex Cora had seen enough and pulled Harrison for right-hander Justin Slaten. Slaten inherited runners on second and third, got two outs but walked Wenceel Pérez to load the bases in the process. Right-hander Justin Slaten came in to close out the inning and prevent further damage.
Scoreboard watching: Checking in on AL East race
The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays entered Friday night’s play tied atop the AL East (though, the Blue Jays own the tiebreaker).
Through three innings, the Blue Jays are tied with the Tampa Bay Rays, 2-2.
Over at Yankee Stadium, New York grabbed a 6-3 lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the botton of the third. The Yankees clinched a playoff berth on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Friday’s MLB scores
Red Sox threaten in second inning, but come up empty
Masataka Yoshida opened the bottom of the second inning with a single to right. After Romy Gonzalez struck out and Ceddanne Rafaela popped out, Nathaniel Lowe hit a ball that bounced off the top of the Green Monster for a double. But, with Yoshida on third and Lowe on second, Wilyer Abreu’s hard-hit ball found Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres, who threw Abreu out at first.
The Tigers escaped the inning to keep the game scoreless.
Scoreboard watching: Rangers lead Guardians
The Texas Rangers opened the game at Progressive Field by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning and lead the Cleveland Guardians, 4-2, through one inning of play.
The Guardians’ magic number to win the AL Central over the Tigers is three, with the magic number to secure a wild-card spot at two.
Wenceel Pérez flies into stands for foul ball
Tigers right fielder Wenceel Pérez nearly made a spectacular play on a foul ball off the bat of the Red Sox’s Trevor Story.
It was ruled that Pérez didn’t complete the process of the catch. He lost possession as he fell into the stands and the glove hit a seat.
The Tigers challenged the play, but were unsuccessful. The lost challenge could loom large in this pivotal game with playoff implications.
Where to watch Red Sox vs. Tigers
Friday’s game at Fenway Park will air exclusively on Apple TV+ with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Watch Red Sox vs. Tigers on Apple TV+
Red Sox lineup tonight
Jarren Duran (L) LF
Trevor Story (R) SS
Alex Bregman (R) 3B
Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
Romy Gonzalez (R) 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Carlos Narváez (R) C
Starting pitcher: LHP Kyle Harrison
Tigers lineup tonight
Jahmai Jones (R) DH
Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Wenceel Pérez (S) RF
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Riley Greene (L) LF
Andy Ibáñez (R) 3B
Dillon Dingler (R) C
Parker Meadows (L) CF
Javier Báez (R) SS
Starting pitcher: RHP Casey Mize
Red Sox vs Tigers prediction, odds
MLB playoff bracket
Entering Friday night’s games, these would be the playoff matchups:
AL Wild Card Series
Cleveland Guardians (3) vs. Detroit Tigers (6)
New York Yankees (4) vs. Boston Red Sox (5)
AL Division Series
Seattle Mariners (2) play Guardians-Tigers winner
Toronto Blue Jays (1) play Yankees-Red Sox winner
NL Wild Card Series
Los Angeles Dodgers (3) vs. New York Mets (6)
Chicago Cubs (4) vs. San Diego Padres (5)
NL Division Series
Philadelphia Phillies (2) play Dodgers-Mets winner
Milwaukee Brewers (1) play Cubs-Padres winner
What is the MLB playoff schedule?
The 12-team Major League Baseball playoffs start on Tuesday, Sept. 30 and can continue into November if the World Series goes to seven games.
Wild Card Series (best-of-three): Tuesday, Sept. 30 through Thursday, Oct. 2*
Division Series (best-of-five): Saturday, Oct. 4 through Saturday, Oct. 11*
Championship Series (best-of-seven): Sunday, Oct. 12 through Tuesday, Oct. 21*
World Series (best-of-seven): Friday, Oct. 24 through Saturday, Nov. 1*
*if necessary
Tigers-Red Sox game will have live footage from new iPhone
Friday night’s broadcast on Apple TV between the Tigers and Red Sox at Fenway Park will feature a first: Live game footage shot directly from an iPhone camera.
There will be four iPhone 17 Pros set up at Fenway Park (including one inside the Green Monster) to capture the crucial late-season clash with American League wild-card implications.
Will Tigers and Mets complete collapses?
Ten of the 15 final three-game series have some connection to either playoff qualification or seeding, with several head-to-head matchups affecting both teams. — Gabe Lacques