Boston Red Sox players celebrate clinching a playoff spot in the clubhouse after winning their game against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Red Sox clinch playoff spot in dramatic fashion

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 10:41 PM ET

The Boston Red Sox are in back in the American League playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season, and they punched their ticket in rather dramatic fashion on Friday night in a 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers.

Ceddanne Rafaela walks it off in the ninth

After trailing 3-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Red Sox rallied with runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game. That set the stage for Ceddanne Rafaela to crush a fly ball off the wall in center field, scoring Romy Gonzalez from first base.

Here is a look at his winning hit.

WALK-OFF CLINCH. pic.twitter.com/cJ49xCzKJs
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 27, 2025

Just getting into the playoffs is a huge accomplishment and step forward for the Red Sox this season. Not only had they settled into a phase of mediocrity, failing to even finish with a winning record in each of the past three seasons, but they also traded one of their best players this season — Rafael Devers — and lost one of their best young players — Roman Anthony — to an injury.

The Red Sox had every reason to fail this season and endure another disappointing year. But they didn't. It's only their second playoff appearance since winning the World Series during the 2018 season.

While the Red Sox get the celebration of winning Friday's game, it only adds to the pressure the Tigers are facing as their late-season slump has pushed them to the fringes of playoff contention in the American League race.

They have almost no margin for error at this point, and losing a game they looked to be in control of is another gut-punch in a month that has been full of them.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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