Tigers clinch playoff berth with 2-1 win over Red Sox in Game 161

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston clinch occasion moved throughout the diamond.

Lower than 24 hours after the Crimson Sox drenched the house clubhouse at Fenway Park to have a good time their postseason berth, the Detroit Tigers have been spraying Champagne within the guests’ locker room Saturday after beating Boston to earn a spot within the American League playoffs.

“They didn’t overlook to have a good time, I’ll inform you that,” Tigers supervisor A.J. Hinch advised reporters as he ducked right into a hallway to attempt to get away from the postgame mayhem. “We’re having a superb time as a result of we’ve earned it. Nevertheless it’s very rewarding to get to the postseason, irrespective of the way you do it.”

After blowing a 14-game lead within the AL Central and an eighth-inning lead on Friday night time that might have secured their spot a day earlier, the Tigers beat the Crimson Sox 2-1 on Saturday. Assured at the least a wild card, Detroit can nonetheless win the division and host a first-round sequence — however solely with assist from Cleveland.

The victory with one recreation to play averted a collapse that might have been among the many largest in baseball historical past. The Guardians, who have been in fourth place and 15 1/2 video games again on July 7, can nonetheless publish the largest comeback ever in the event that they win their final two video games (or one if Detroit loses on Sunday).

“We’ll be watching and being attentive to what’s happening across the league,” mentioned Hinch, who will save ace Tarik Skubal for the Wild Card Sequence opener on Tuesday as an alternative of utilizing him to attempt to win the division on Sunday.

“Our guys earned this celebration,” the supervisor added, “and due to how good we have been for almost all of the season, we have been capable of face up to a very robust stretch and end with a few wins.”

Will Vest retired Carlos Narváez on a groundout to 3rd for the ultimate out, pumping his fist in celebration earlier than his teammates joined him on the mound. Earlier than returning to the raucous clubhouse, the Tigers donned blue “October Baseball” T-shirts – similar to the pink ones the Crimson Sox wore the night time earlier than.

“I completely hated it” watching Boston have a good time the night time earlier than, designated hitter Jahmai Jones mentioned. “I hate shedding. So whenever you really feel prefer it’s going to occur on night time one, and it didn’t, everyone type of understood the type of style that left in our mouth.

“However we knew that we had a fantastic alternative the following day,” he mentioned. “And we actually centered at the moment on attempting to get that win.”

Contained in the clubhouse, Hinch tried to drag reporters away from the commotion, however Skubal tracked him down and sprayed him so enthusiastically he broke an exit signal hanging from the ceiling (which he then mounted).

The group surrounded proprietor Chris Ilitch and — after giving him an opportunity to get his goggles on — drenched him with beer and Champagne. They made a circle and sang alongside to the music blasting by the room, then posed for a group image.

“Baseball, it’s not a straight line,” Ilitch mentioned. “It’s a protracted baseball season. There’s going to be ups, and there’s going to be downs. We had a whole lot of ups and we had some downs, however right here we’re.”

Even Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora, whose brother Joey is the Tigers’ third base coach, was feeling the strain earlier than the sport.

“It’s been robust to observe, to be sincere with you. It’s the full reverse of final yr,” when Detroit was 16 video games again in July however rallied to earn a wild-card berth and return to the playoffs for the primary time since 2014.

“They’re a very good group. We’ll see what occurs within the upcoming days. However speaking to my brother all through, it’s been a grind for them. Yesterday was robust for them. So we’ll see.”