Final: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 - Red Sox punch their ticket to the postseason with walk-off win from Ceddanne Rafaela

The Boston Red Sox record their 12th walk-off victory of the season to return back to the MLB playoffs for the first time since 2021.

With both the Red Sox and Detroit Tigers vying for playoff spots, tonight's game provided Fenway Park with an October atmosphere.

In first three innings of the game, Boston and Detroit went scoreless. Red Sox starter Kyle Harrison got Boston out of multiple dangerous situations through the first three innings of the game. However Boston's offense struggled to figure out Tigers starter Casey Mize, who struck out eight batters in 6.1 innings.

By the fourth inning, the Tigers found their stride on offense. After Harrison allowed a walk and single to start the inning, Parker Meadows dropped down a bunt that loaded the bases for the Tigers. 

With no outs and three runners on base, Harrison allowed an RBI single to Javier Baez, followed by a two-run double to Jahmai Jones giving Detroit a 3-0 lead. During this inning, Boston had to use three different pitchers to get them out of the jam.

That same inning, Boston also broke through on offense. Alex Bregman recorded a lead-off double, and Masataka Yoshida drove home Bregman to make it a 3-1 game.

For the rest of the game, the Red Sox had to rely on their bullpen to shutdown Detroit, and they succeeded. Between the fourth and seventh innings, Justin Slaten, Steven Matz, Greg Weissert, and Zack Kelly all made appearances on the mound, and the Tigers stayed at three runs.

At the bottom of the seventh inning, the Red Sox brought the game within a run. A Ceddanne Rafaela double put two runners in scoring position, and Nathaniel Lowe scored Boston's second run with a sac-fly RBI.

In the eighth inning, Garrett Whitlock struck out the side, and momentum shifted in Boston's favor. 

Carlos Narváez lead off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single. Nate Eaton entered the game to pinch run for Narvaez, and in the first at-bat entering the game, Eaton stole second base. A misplay by Gleyber Torres on the steal attempt resulted in Eaton making it to third with no outs. 

And with no outs and a runner at third, Jarren Duran tied the game for Boston with an RBI single. 

Aroldis Chapman was then assigned to shutout the Tigers in the ninth inning. Despite allowing a leadoff double, Chapman struck out the last two batters he faced to keep Detroit's winning run at third base. 

And in the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner at first base, Rafaela smashed a pitch off the centerfield wall to send the game-winning run home and the Red Sox into the postseason.

Boston's league-leading 12th walk-off win of the year came at a perfect time. In a roller coaster of a season, fans have seen miraculous comeback victories and multiple extra-inning letdowns, and seeing Boston pull off this comeback victory shows how much this team has improved since March. 

The Red Sox bullpen pitched flawless. Alex Cora managed his bullpen well, and every bullpen arm was used to effectively  prevent the Tigers from adding on runs. This gave the Red Sox the confidence to pull off this comeback.

Tomorrow, Boston plays their second-to-last game of the regular season at 4:10 p.m. with Connelly Early on the mound.

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WHO: Red Sox (87-72) vs Tigers (86-73)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE: (0-0), (0-3)
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Kyle Harrison (1-1, 3.58 ERA) vs. RHP Casey Mize (14-6, 3.91 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran (L) LF
Trevor Story (R) SS
Alex Bregman (R) 3B
Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
Romy Gonzalez (R) 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Carlos Narváez (R) C

SP Kyle Harrison

TIGERS

Jahmai Jones (R) DH
Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Wenceel Pérez (S) RF
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Riley Greene (L) LF
Andy Ibáñez (R) 3B
Dillon Dingler (R) C
Parker Meadows (L) CF
Javier Báez (R) SS

SP Casey Mize

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox look to punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Detroit Tigers.

 For the second straight night, the Red Sox have a chance to clinch their first playoff spot in four years.

Tonight's game is played on Apple TV.