League: MLB Sport: Baseball Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Red Sox clinch playoff spot despite losses to Rays

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 21, 2026, 10:52 PM

Last updated Sep 21, 2026

Red Sox clinch playoff spot despite losses to Rays

Summary

The Red Sox secured a playoff berth on September 21 despite losing their final two games against the Rays at Tropicana Field. The clinching came after Mike Yastrzemski's pivotal three-run homer led the Braves to victory over the Astros, allowing Boston to maintain a seven-game lead over Houston in the AL wild card standings. This marks the Red Sox's second consecutive postseason appearance, having rallied from a difficult start to the season and now looking toward a likely matchup against the Yankees in the Wild Card Series on September 29. Interim manager Chad Tracy praised the team's hard work in overcoming early struggles this season.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Red Sox lost two games to the Rays but clinched a playoff spot.
•Mike Yastrzemski's homer helped the Braves beat the Astros.
•Boston has a seven-game lead over Houston for the AL wild card.
•The team is set to play their remaining six games at home.
•Interim manager Chad Tracy noted the team's resilience after a poor start.

Latest Updates

10:52 PMYahoo Sports — Red Sox clinch playoff spot — and have franchise legend’s grandson to thank

What they're saying

"
The Red Sox lost the final two games of their weekend set against the Rays at Tropicana Field, but they still clinched a playoff spot Sunday thanks to Mike Yastrzemski hitting a big homer to beat the Astros.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Atlanta Braves Boston Red Sox Chicago White Sox Cleveland Guardians Houston Astros New York Yankees MLB Baseball