The Boston Red Sox took a 10-game win streak into the All-Star break, entering the second half of the season with a 53-45 record, the same one they boasted right after last year’s Midsummer Classic.
But this Red Sox team found its way to the postseason, riding improved pitching to a secure a finish above .500 for the first time since 2021, the last time Boston made the playoffs.
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With a 4-3 walk-off win over the struggling Detroit Tigers Friday night, the Red Sox clinched just their second postseason appearance in the past seven seasons.
Alex Cora’s group accomplished the feat in Fenway Park, just one day after swinging and missing at a clinching opportunity on the road in its series finale against the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays.
In the bottom of the ninth inning Friday, after the Red Sox had erased what was originally a 3-0 deficit earlier in the night, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela blasted a triple to center field. It bounced off the wall and scored second baseman Romy González from first.
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An emotional Rafaela bowed his head at third before he was swarmed by his galloping teammates in a raucous Fenway.
The Red Sox punched their ticket to the playoffs versus a Tigers team desperately trying to get there amid a collapse MLB hasn’t seen since it introduced divisions in 1969. Detroit was up 15.5 games on the Cleveland Guardians in July, but now the Tigers are looking up at the Guardians in the AL Central and are trying to stave off the Houston Astros for the league’s final wild-card spot.
Boston, meanwhile, is in line to lock up the second wild-card bid.
The Red Sox got off to a slow start this season. They lost four of their first five games and didn’t really turn the corner until their July surge.
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Along the way, they survived the drama surrounding three-time All-Star Rafael Devers, who signed the largest contract in franchise history in 2023 and was the last remaining member of the 2018 World Series team. Devers grew disgruntled with the Red Sox front office after now-three-time All-Star Alex Bregman, whom Boston signed in the offseason, took Devers’ place at third base, and then after Boston asked Devers to play first base following a season-ending injury to Triston Casas.
Boston traded Devers to the Giants. Less than a week before that, top prospect Roman Anthony made his MLB debut for the Red Sox. He eventually finalized an eight-year, $130 million contract extension with the team, joining a Red Sox core that also features All-Star left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet.
Crochet has headlined Boston’s pitching staff with a 2.59 ERA, teaming up with righties Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito to form a solid front three for the Red Sox.
A 37-year-old Aroldis Chapman has rounded out the bullpen, entering Friday tied for fourth in the majors with 32 saves this season.
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The Red Sox have firepower in their lineup, too. Shortstop Trevor Story is nearing 100 RBI, González is batting above .300, left fielder Jarren Duran came into Friday night leading the AL with 13 triples and Bregman earned All-Star honors for the first time in six years.
And Rafaela — well, he just sent the Red Sox back to the playoffs.