NEW YORK — Rafael Devers responded when push came to shove for the Boston Red Sox. Aaron Judge was in charge of giving the final push to the New York Yankees. AND Buster posey propelled the San Francisco Giants to the NL West title, condemning the Los Angeles Dodgers – with their 106 wins – to a dangerous wild-card game.
At one stroke, the key to the Major League Baseball playoffs was defined on Sunday.
No complex tiebreaker situations. No chaos on the last day. And for fans who wanted drama – don’t worry, it’s coming up.
There will be a Yankees-Red Sox game to open the postseason – life or death at Fenway Park. Sounds familiar?
“We’ll be ready,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “And it should be entertaining.”
Thanks to decisive hits by Devers and Judge, Boston and New York scored runs in the ninth inning of Game 162 to seal their tickets in the wild card game Tuesday night, when the Yankees ace, Gerrit cole, will open against Nathan Eovaldi.
In the interim, Bucky Dent’s home run off the Green Monster that catapulted the Yankees over Boston in the memorable 1978 AL East title playoff game will be remembered ad nauseam.
On the sidelines were Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his Toronto Blue Jays, as well as the Seattle Mariners. Both were eliminated by the results of the Red Sox or Yankees. With a two-run homer by Devers, Boston rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 7-5. Judge singled for New York to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0.
“Unfortunately, our fate was in the hands of another team,” he said. George springer, who hit a pair of home runs in Toronto’s 12-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles. “We had a hope, but it could not be given.”
The Giants conquered the NL West with 107 victories, a record harvest for the franchise, by beating the San Diego Padres 11-4, with Posey driving in three runs. They needed to win all those games to finish ahead of the defending World Series champion Dodgers.
“It will be very difficult to have another fight like this for a long time,” said Posey, the receiver who owns three World Series champion rings and who did not play last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dodgers will have to contend with a fiery St. Louis Cardinals in the NL wild card clash on Wednesday night. It will offer another attractive starting matchup: Max scherzer vs. Adam wainwright.
The divisional series, best of five games, will begin Tuesday with the AL crosses.
0:58
Aaron Judge singles to plate Tyler Wade and the Yankees clinch an AL wild-card spot. The Bronx will play against the Red Sox their pass to the Playoffs.
In one, 76-year-old Tony La Russa will lead the Chicago White Sox against 72-year-old Dusty Baker and the Houston Astros.
Also, the rookie feeling Wander franco and the Rays will host the AL wild card winner.
On Friday, the National series will start with Charlie morton and the Atlanta Braves visiting Corbin burnes and the Milwaukee Brewers, eager to win their first World Series crown.
Posey and the Giants will host the winner of the wild card game at Oracle Park.
1:07
The Dominican takes the game into his own hands as he hits center back in the top of the ninth, leading Boston to a win over Washington and securing a wild-card spot.
By beating Baltimore in a losing cause, Guerrero Jr. hit his 48th home run, tying Salvador Perez Kansas City Royals in the lead in the majors.
The Mariners’ 20-year playoff drought dragged on when Shohei ohtani he hit his 46th home run and reached 100 RBIs for the Los Angeles Angels to defeat Seattle.
The Mariners closed 90-72, their best record since winning 93 games in 2003.
“Baseball is back in Seattle,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “We couldn’t make it to the finish line, but I think everyone realizes we’re on our way, and I was delighted that so many people got on our train because we will have a lot of fun.”
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