Red Sox Clinch Postseason Berth with Dramatic Win

Fenway Park, Boston, September 29, 2025

News Summary

The Boston Red Sox clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2021 with a thrilling 4-3 walk-off victory over the Detroit Tigers. Trailing 3-1, Boston staged a dramatic comeback by scoring runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, culminating in Ceddanne Rafaela’s game-winning RBI triple. The win was crucial for playoff positioning, moving the Red Sox ahead in the wild-card race and setting the stage for their postseason start next week.

Boston — The Boston Red Sox secured a postseason berth for the first time since 2021. The clincher came with a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory over the Detroit Tigers on September 29, 2025, a result that guaranteed Boston a place in the American League postseason and shifted the wild-card race late in the season.

Key outcome and deciding play

The Boston Red Sox secured a postseason berth for the first time since 2021. The victory came on September 29, 2025, in a game against the Detroit Tigers. The Red Sox won the game 4-3 after trailing 3-1 heading into the seventh inning. The comeback was completed in the bottom of the ninth when Ceddanne Rafaela hit an RBI triple off Tommy Kahnle in the bottom of the ninth inning, driving in Romy Gonzalez as the winning run. The play narrowly eluded Cubs center fielder Parker Meadows, who almost made a catch on Rafaela’s hit but could not reach the ball, sealing the walk-off.

How the comeback unfolded

Boston rallied late, scoring a run in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to erase a 3-1 deficit and force the final at-bat. The Red Sox scored a run in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to mount the comeback. Masataka Yoshida contributed to the offensive surge by recording multiple hits during the game; Masataka Yoshida contributed three hits for the Red Sox in the game.

Pitching and game credits

Relief pitching closed out the win for Boston. Aroldis Chapman earned the win for the Red Sox, pitching a scoreless ninth inning. The late-inning work preserved the narrow margin and pushed Boston over the threshold for postseason qualification.

Season and historical context

This was Rafaela’s third walk-off hit of the season. The victory also extended a notable pattern of late-game finishes for Boston; The game marked Boston’s 12th walk-off win of the season, tying for the second most in franchise history. The result reflected a team that has shown resilience despite a season marked by setbacks. The Red Sox improved their season record in a season marked by injuries and organizational changes.

Standings implications

The win had immediate playoff-seeding consequences. The victory allowed the Red Sox to move two games ahead of the Tigers and 2.5 games ahead of the Houston Astros in the race for the American League wild-card spots. With that gap, Boston secured one of the wild-card berths and will begin postseason play the following week.

Next steps

The Red Sox will start their postseason play on Tuesday against an opponent to be determined based on weekend game outcomes. The team’s manager reflected on the season-long effort and highlighted the group’s focus and resilience as they turn toward October with the stated objective of contending for a championship. Manager Alex Cora expressed pride over the team’s resilience and commitment throughout the season, emphasizing their goal to win the World Series.

Fan reaction and atmosphere

Fenway Park erupted after the final play, with players and fans acknowledging the moment. Fenway Park witnessed a large celebration as the team donned “October Baseball” shirts after the win. The mood at the ballpark underscored the significance of returning to postseason play for the first time in several years.

Notable plays and near-misses

The defining moment came on Rafaela’s ninth-inning triple. Parker Meadows almost made a catch on Rafaela’s hit but could not reach the ball. That play directly produced the winning run and finalized the walk-off victory.

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Additional Resources

• MLB: Red Sox Clinch Playoff Berth
• Boston Globe: Rafaela’s RBI Triple
• Boston Herald: Rafaela Rises to the Moment
• Fox Sports: Red Sox Clinch First Playoff Berth
• Wikipedia: Boston Red Sox

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