2011 Getty Images
In pictures
Gallery: Baseball's wild night in the playoff race
Affan Chowdhry
Published
Last updated
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September 28, 2011; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (3) runs around the bases after he hit the game winning home run in the at twelfth inning against the New York Yankees Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 8-7 to win the wildcard playoff spot. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE— US PRESSWIRE
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees
Evan Longoria’s home run for the Tampa Bay Rays in the 12th inning against the New York Yankees caps a wild comeback and an American League wildcard spot. The Tampa Bay Rays trailed the Boston Red Sox by as many as nine games in September in the AL wildcard race.
The Tampa Bay Rays clinched the AL wild card with a stunning rally Wednesday night, overcoming a late seven-run deficit and then beating the New York Yankees 8-7.
The Rays’ playoff spot happened on the back of a Red Sox collapse during September. The team posted a 7-19 record for the month.
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Nolan Reimold #14 of the Baltimore Orioles is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game winning run in the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 28, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore won the game 4-3.— Greg Fiume/Getty Images
Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox
Boston closer Jonathan Papelhon struck out the first two batters and brought the team within one out of securing an AL wildcard spot only to see its playoff dreams vanish.
Robert Andino of the Orioles completed the comeback after hitting a single to left that Boston's Carl Crawford mishandled.
The Boston Red Sox completed their September collapse in horrific and historic fashion, falling out of the playoff chase by allowing two ninth-inning runs in a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
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Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann (L) and relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel watch as manager Fredi Gonzalez approaches the mound to remove Kimbrel after the tying game scored by the Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth inning of their MLB National League baseball game at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia September 28, 2011.— Tami Chappell/REUTERS
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies
In the National League wildcard race the Atlanta Braves needed only three outs against the Philadelphia Phillies to secure the the NL wildcard spot. But yet another ninth-inning collapse – this time Braves closer Craig Kimbrel surrendering the tying run and getting pulled from the game.
The Phillies’ Hunter Pence hit a run-scoring single in the 13th inning to give the Phillies a 4-3 victory.
The Braves led the NL race for the wildcard spot by 8 1/2 games in early September, with the St. Louis Cardinals chasing hard. Like the Boston Red Sox in the AL league, the Braves looked destined for the playoffs. Instead, it will be a long winter to ponder where it went wrong.
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Pitcher Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals throws against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Minute Maid Park on September 28, 2011 in Houston, Texas.— Bob Levey/Getty Images
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros
Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches his second shutout of the season, beating the Houston Astros 8-0. The Cardinals waited in the clubhouse for the outcome of the Atlanta Braves game.
St. Louis overcame a 10 1/2 game deficit to win the NL wildcard and a date against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in Game 1 of their division playoffs.
