The Boston Red Sox are headed back to the playoffs. It wasn’t an easy win, but Boston battled back from an early three-run deficit to beat the Detroit Tigers and clinch a playoff spot.
Detroit took an early 3-0 lead, but the Red Sox bullpen held the Tigers to three runs and gave the Red Sox a chance to climb back in the game. The Red Sox scored one in the fourth and one in the seventh before tying the game in the eighth inning. Aroldis Chapman held the Tigers scoreless in the top of the ninth, giving the Red Sox a chance to walk it off in the bottom half.
Romy Gonzalez singled with one out, representing the winning run. Ceddanne Rafaela climbed into the batter’s box and laced a fly ball off the center field to score Gonzalez and send the Red Sox back to October.
“No words. No words,” Rafaela said. “This is the type of game I want to play in. Since I’ve been called up, I’ve dreamed about this moment.”
Rafaela has been the worst hitter by wRC+ among qualifiers since the All-Star break. He’s hit .206 with two home runs since July 15th. The struggles clearly weighed on him. He collapsed at third base after his walk-off hit and shared a huge embrace with Red Sox manager Alex Cora after the game. Cora also put his hand under his chin as if to say, “Keep your head up.”
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“It’s been a tough two months for me,” Rafaela said. “These guys right here, they’ve been here for me and remember me, remember what type of player I am, I’m glad I did it for them.”
Boston plays two more games with the Tigers before beginning the playoffs on Tuesday.
