Browsing: walkoff

It took 15 innings in the decisive Game 5 against the Detroit Tigers for the Seattle Mariners to secure their first trip to the American League Championship Series in 24 years.

Jorge Polanco, who delivered the walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 15th on Friday night, was full of nothing but appreciation for being part of such a special moment.

“I have so much gratitude,” Polanco told reporters after the win.

The Mariners loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 15th when Polanco came to the plate. He worked a six-pitch at-bat against Tigers reliever Tommy Kahnle and hit the final changeup he saw into right field to secure the win.

Polanco, who went 1-for-6 with three strikeouts and one walk on Friday, had two heroic moments in the series. He hit two solo homers of Tarik Skubal in Game 2, helping the Mariners secure a 3-2 win that evened the series going back to Detroit.

Friday was an offensive struggle for both teams. They combined for just 16 hits in 15 innings and were 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

Even though the game took longer than Mariners fans would have liked and probably added many gray hairs to their heads, the wait was worth it to get this victory.

The Mariners will play in the ALCS for the first time since 2001. They are four wins away from reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

Next up for Seattle will be a showdown with the Toronto Blue Jays. The two teams will play Game 1 of the ALCS at Rogers Centre on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET.

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It took 15 innings, but for the first time in 25 years, the Seattle Mariners are headed to the American League Championship Series after a 3-2 Game 5 win over the Detroit Tigers in Friday’s AL Division Series.

With the bases loaded, Jorge Polanco singled to right in the bottom of the 15th, driving in the walk-off run and sending the longest-tenured Mariner, J.P. Crawford, across the plate, propelling Seattle to the ALCS.

No. 2 Seattle will now face the No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays, who have been awaiting their opponent since defeating the New York Yankees 3-1 in the ALDS on Wednesday.

Luis Rivas finished 1-of-3 at the plate with one RBI, Mitch Garver added a RBI and Polanco drove in the game-winning run. Jonathan Naylor, Crawford and Polanco each crossed home plate once.

Mariners ace George Kirby set the tone with a dominant outing, recording six strikeouts over five innings while allowing three hits and one earned run.

The Mariners and their key players thrilled fans with a historic walk-off win in the 15th inning.

Seattle struck first as Garver hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Josh Naylor, giving the Mariners a 1-0 lead after two innings.

Starter Kirby was pulled after five innings, at the top of the sixth after allowing a double to Báez, just before Carpenter came to the plate. Reliever Gabe Speier entered and immediately gave up a 411-foot, two-run home run, putting the Tigers ahead 2-1.

Seattle’s Rivas singled in the seventh, driving in a run to tie the game at 2-2 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy that carried into extra innings.

After holding Detroit scoreless in the top of the 10th, Seattle’s Victor Robles reached second on a double with no outs, but the Tigers escaped and ended the threat.

Seattle faced a tense moment in the top of the 12th, as Eugenio Suarez made a perfect throw to prevent a Detroit run at home plate. After an intentional walk to Carpenter loaded the bases, the Mariners managed to escape the inning unscathed.

Polanco’s 15th-inning RBI sealed the Mariners’ victory to send them to the ALCS.

Game 1 of the ALCS is scheduled for Sunday, with first pitch set for 8:03 p.m. ET.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have booked their 8th trip to the National League Championship Series since 2013 by walking off in the bottom of the 11th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. While Dodgers fans celebrated advancing, it was Orion Kerkering and the rest of Philly left wondering what if.

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On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down the unfortunate error by Kerkering that led to the Dodgers eliminating the Phillies — and why he doesnâ€t deserve all of the blame. The guys then go on to question whether the Phillies have a larger issue brewing with their roster after failing to win the World Series in recent seasons and whatâ€s next for their impending free agents.

Also on this episode, Jake and Jordan discuss the Chicago Cubs taking down the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4, forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 back in Milwaukee this Saturday. With the Brewers failing to capitalize on a 2-0 series lead, the question now is: who will the Brew Crew turn to in the must-win game to help validate their season? Later, the guys preview the ALDS Game 5 between the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, featuring what is sure to be one of the most enticing pitching matchups of the postseason — George Kirby vs. Tarik Skubal.

(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

1:00 – The Opener: Dodgers advance to NLCS

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20:25 – Where do the Phillies go from here?

26:04 – Cubs force a Game 5

30:47 – Brewers make questionable choices

42:49 – Tigers-Mariners Game 5 preview

47:35 – ALDS Game 5 prediction

ðŸ–¥ï¸ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or atyahoosports.tv

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An error in the 11th inning led the Los Angeles Dodgers to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in Game 4 of the National League Division Series to advance to the National League Championship Series.Â

In the 11th inning with the bases loaded, Andy Pages hit a grounder back to pitcher Orion Kerkering, who bobbled the ball but still had time to make the play at first. Instead, his throw sailed wide of home plate, allowing pinch runner Ha-Seong Kim to score the game-winning run.

The Dodgers will face the winner of the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers matchup with the Brewers currently leading that series 2-1 in the NLDS.

Mookie Betts went 1-of-4 at the plate with one RBI. Freddie Freeman added a hit, and Kim scored the winning run as a pinch runner.

Los Angeles ace Tyler Glasnow had a stellar game, pitching 6.0  innings, with eight strikeouts with two hits with and no earned runs.

Dodgers fans praised the team, thrilled to see their championship repeat hopes stay alive.

After a scoreless start, the Phillies broke through in the seventh when Nick Castellanos doubled to drive in a run and give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers answered in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with two outs before Mookie Betts drew a walk to bring in the tying run.

With the score tied 1-1, the NLDS went into extra innings, where the disastrous 11th-inning play sealed the Phillies’ fate and allowed the Dodgers to take Game 4 at home.

The Dodgers will await the winner of the Brewers and Cubs series for the start of the NLCS on Oct. 13.

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CLEVELAND — Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said in the midst of Clevelandâ€s 10-game losing streak in early July that there was light at the end of the tunnel and things would turn around.

Vogt ended up selling his team a little short, as the Guardians made one of the biggest turnarounds in baseball history.

Cleveland clinched a postseason spot in fittingly improbable fashion. C.J. Kayfus was hit in the arm by a fastball from Texas Rangers reliever Robert Garcia with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning Saturday night, scoring Petey Halpin with the winning run to give the Guardians a 3-2 victory that put them in the playoffs.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time since at least 1920 that a team won on a walk-off hit by pitch to clinch a postseason spot.

“When they walked (Gabriel) Arias (to load the bases), I knew I had a job to do. I knew I was going to get that job done one way or another, but I definitely didnâ€t think it was going to be like that,†said Kayfus, called up from the minors in early August.

The Guardians (86-74) became the fourth major league team and first in the American League to reach the postseason after having a 10-game losing streak, joining the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers, 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1951 New York Giants.

“Itâ€s exactly us. Of course weâ€re going to get in on a walk-off hit by pitch†a champagne-soaked Vogt said in the clubhouse as his team was celebrating. “Just to stop and think about where we came from to get here, thereâ€s no words. I couldnâ€t be more proud of these guys. Theyâ€ve earned every bit of this.â€

According to FanGraphs, the Guardians had a 2.9% chance to make the postseason and a 0.2% chance to win the AL Central on Sept. 1.

Cleveland remains tied with Detroit for the division lead after the Tigers also wrapped up a postseason spot Saturday with a 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

If Cleveland and Detroit end up tied after Sundayâ€s games, the Guardians would win the AL Central due to an 8-5 advantage in the season series. They would host a Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.

Even though Steven Kwan and José Ramírez have been the Guardians†offensive stalwarts all year, others have picked up the slack in September.

Johnathan Rodríguez, called up Wednesday after David Fry was hit in the face by a pitch Tuesday night, batted cleanup and hit a two-run homer in the first inning to put the Guardians up 2-1. It was the first at-bat for Rodríguez, who had a .167 batting average in 29 big league games, since he was called up for his third stint this season.

“They showed me the lineup last night and I showed it to my wife. She said just to play like you did at Triple-A,†Rodríguez said.

On Wednesday, the Guardians became the first major league team to overcome a deficit of 15 1/2 games and take the lead in either division or league play with a 5-1 win over the Tigers. Cleveland was 40-48 and also 6 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot on July 6 after a 7-2 loss in 10 innings to the Tigers extended the losing streak to 10.

Since July 7, the Guardians are an AL-best 47-26.

The 1914 Boston Braves were 15 games back in the National League on July 4 and rallied to win by 10 1/2 games, according to Elias. Since baseball went to division play in 1969, the biggest deficit overcome was 14 games by the 1978 New York Yankees to win the AL East.

On Sept. 4, the Guardians were 69-70 and 11 games behind the Tigers before going 15-1, including a 10-game winning streak that included a three-game sweep in Detroit. It is the largest September lead overcome to tie or take the lead in the division or league, according to Elias. The previous mark was 8 1/2 games by the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals and 1964 Cincinnati Reds.

Cleveland found its way back to the postseason despite reliever Emmanuel Clase and starting pitcher Luis Ortiz being placed on non-disciplinary leave in July as part of investigations into their possible involvement in gambling during games. Ortiz was placed on leave July 3 and Clase on July 28.

“I give our players and coaches and staff and (Vogt) a ton of credit because it was a really hard mountain to climb to make this a reality,†Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “There were obviously times during the season where this looked really far away, and our group was never daunted by that. They showed up each day with the same energy, the same focus, the same intensity, to try to figure out a way to win a game that night, and that mindsetâ€s really carried us forward to today.â€

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Sep 26, 2025, 10:12 PM ET

BOSTON — Ceddanne Rafaela sent a line drive deep to center field, and Romy Gonzalez hesitated between first and second to make sure it wasn’t caught.

The rest of the Boston Red Sox didn’t bother waiting.

Streaming out of the dugout to greet Gonzalez when he circled around to home plate with the winning run, the Red Sox celebrated their return to the postseason Friday night after a 4-3 walk-off victory over the skidding Detroit Tigers. Another cluster gathered around Rafaela at third.

Boston (88-72) moved two games ahead of Detroit and three games ahead of Houston (85-75) in the race for the last two American League wild-card spots.

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Boston will play the best-of-three first round on the road, at either New York, Toronto, Cleveland or Detroit.

“The most important thing: We’re in,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said in his office, across the hall from the clubhouse where his players were showering each other with sparkling wine and beer. “We just celebrate tonight, and you know, we’ll see where we are tomorrow.”

Boston could have clinched a playoff berth even with a loss if Houston had also lost. Ace Garrett Crochet, who is expected to start Game 1 of the wild-card round, said there were no plans for the team to hang around Fenway Park to celebrate if the Angels beat the Astros.

“I didn’t have losing on my mind at all. I was focused on today and the game that we were playing,” Crochet said. “We’re handling the task at hand and controlling what we can control.”

The Red Sox had missed the postseason for three straight seasons. They have not gone four years in a row missing the playoffs since 1985. Their 2021 run to the AL Championship Series had been their only postseason appearance since their 2018 World Series title.

“We didn’t come here to play only 162. We came here to win the World Series,” Cora told his players in the clubhouse before uncorking the first bottle of sparkling wine. “Let’s f—ing go!”

Boston trailed 3-0 in the fourth inning but made it 3-2 in the seventh on Rafaela’s double that went off the top of the Green Monster. The Red Sox tied it in the eighth on Jarren Duran’s RBI single, and then Gonzalez singled with one out in the ninth.

Rafaela hit a 1-0 pitch to straightaway center. Center fielder Parker Meadows leaped at the wall but could not get the ball, and it bounced toward right field.

The rally set off a celebration in sold-out Fenway Park as players returned to the field in their “October Baseball” T-shirts and posed for a team picture in front of the Green Monster. In the clubhouse, they donned goggles and soaked each other with bubbly and beer.

“I’ve got nothing but belief in this group,” said rookie Roman Anthony, whose injury stalled the playoff run though he has a chance to return in October — if his teammates can keep it going long enough. “I’m trying to stay positive and be the best cheerleader I can be.”

Cora said he was pleased to clinch with two games remaining, so that the Red Sox can get their pitching lined up for the three-game wild-card series that begins next Tuesday. Lucas Giolito will no longer pitch Sunday so he can start Game 2.

“It’s important to take care of some guys,” Cora said. “The pitching staff, we have to make sure we’re on point going into next week.”

It was the first time in at least a century that the Red Sox clinched a postseason berth with a walk-off win, according to Elias Sports Bureau. All six of the team’s victories in their Green Monster alternate jerseys this season have been by walk-off.

“I said, ‘Hey, we’re wearing the green jerseys. You know what that means,'” Crochet said in the Boston clubhouse. “And, ultimately, Rafaela delivered.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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BOSTON — Ceddanne Rafaela tripled off the centre field wall to drive in the game-ending run in the ninth inning on Friday night, giving the Red Sox a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers and clinching Bostonâ€s first post-season berth since 2021.

Boston rallied from a 3-0 deficit to move two games ahead of the Tigers and 2 1/2 ahead of Houston in the race for the last two American League wild-card berths, with two games left to play. Detroit, which has lost 12 of its last 14 games, can still reach the playoffs and even win the AL Central with help from Cleveland.

Boston tied the game in the eighth inning and then Romy Gonzalez singled to centre with one out in the ninth. Rafaela, who missed clearing the Green Monster in the seventh by about a foot, sent a 1-0 pitch off the wall in centre.

Gonzalez, who held up to make sure it wasn’t caught, raced around to score as his teammates streamed out of the dugout and nearly beat him to the plate.

Masataka Yoshida had three hits for Boston. Closer Aroldis Chapman (5-3) pitched the ninth for the win. Tommy Kahnle (1-5) got just one out in the bottom of the ninth.

The Red Sox missed a pair of two-run homers by about two feet: Nathaniel Lowe hit a line drive off the Green Monster in the second inning, just missing the top of the wall. Rafaela also settled for a double with his liner off the top of the 37-foot wall in the seventh.

It was Boston’s major league-leading 12th walk-off win of the season. That’s tied for the second most in franchise history. The Red Sox won on their last at-bat 13 times in 1940.

LHP Connelly Early (1-1) will start for Boston on Saturday. The Tigers had not named a starter.

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  Jorge CastilloSep 24, 2025, 12:59 AM ET

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  ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.

NEW YORK — José Caballero, a Yankee for all of 54 days, proudly carried a championship belt — given to the player of the game after every New York victory — around his left shoulder as alcohol-soaked chaos raged around him in the home clubhouse Tuesday night.

Acquired at the trade deadline to provide a versatile spark off the bench, the utility infielder fulfilled his duties to the max for the distinction: An inning after entering the game as a pinch runner, Caballero swatted a two-out, walk-off single on the ninth pitch of his at-bat to lift the Yankees to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox and clinch the 60th postseason berth in franchise history.

“This is the best time to have the belt,” Caballero said, “and I’m not letting it go.”

Coupled with the Toronto Blue Jays’ loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees moved within a game of first place in the American League East with five games remaining. Toronto, however, holds the tiebreaker over New York. The Yankees would have to surpass the Blue Jays in the standings by the end of Sunday to claim their 22nd division title and earn a bye into the AL Division Series to begin their pursuit of a second consecutive AL pennant after falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series last season.

“This is the best time to have the belt, and I’m not letting it go,” José Caballero, acquired by the Yankees at the trade deadline, said after delivering a two-out, walk-off single Tuesday night to clinch the 60th postseason berth in franchise history. Al Bello/Getty Images

“This October we’re coming to prove a point,” Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said.

For now, the Yankees are guaranteed their eighth postseason appearance over the past nine years and their 26th trip in the 32 seasons since the playoffs were expanded to eight teams in 1994. Their magic number to clinch the top AL wild-card spot — and guarantee home-field advantage in a three-game wild-card series — is three. The Yankees have not played in a wild-card series since it was first implemented in 2022.

“The ultimate goal is to win our division,” New York right fielder Aaron Judge said as teammates bathed him with MVP chants and showered him with alcohol. “It’s still right there for us. So, we’re excited about getting in, but we got bigger things ahead of us.”

The Yankees, despite boasting the third-most expensive roster in baseball, entered the season with pressing questions after losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets in free agency and Gerrit Cole to a season-ending UCL tear in spring training.

What followed has, so far, been a three-chapter tale. The Yankees’ 42-25 record to start the season through June 12 was third best in the majors. From there, they went 22-31 through Aug. 12, tied for the seventh-worst mark in baseball. They then went 25-12 since Aug. 13, the best record in the majors, to ignite Tuesday’s celebration and cut the Blue Jays’ division lead by five games.

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Challenges surfaced throughout the campaign. Oswaldo Cabrera’s gruesome season-ending knee injury in May opened a gaping hole at third base that wasn’t addressed until the trade deadline. Giancarlo Stanton didn’t make his season debut until mid-June as he dealt with tendon injuries in both elbows. Clarke Schmidt, another rotation stalwart, joined Cole on the list of Tommy John surgery recipients in July. Luis Gil missed the season’s first four months with a lat injury.

Anthony Volpe’s struggles at shortstop and in the batter’s box drew consistent boos all summer and, eventually, a dip in playing time. Devin Williams, acquired over the winter, twice lost his job as closer. Veterans DJ LeMahieu and Marcus Stroman were designated for assignment.

And finally, the latest major blow: The flexor strain Judge suffered in his right arm in late July — which forced a 10-day trip to the injured list to interrupt his MVP-level campaign — limited him to designated hitter for a month upon his return and cast doubt over his ability to unleash full-effort throws from right field.

“It’s been a challenging year, no question about it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “But at my core, and especially as we got here to the final couple months and then we got to the final month, I’m looking around in there and knowing that we’re pretty healthy and getting guys back … I [felt] like our best baseball was absolutely ahead of us and, hopefully, even still is ahead of us.

“But I think we’re a really good club. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but I’ll certainly take our chances up against anyone.”

The Yankees overcame the obstacles with a combination of internal development and external additions.

“This October we’re coming to prove a point,” said second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. The Yankees are in pursuit of a second consecutive AL pennant after falling to the Dodgers in the World Series last year. John Jones/Imagn Images

Trent Grisham emerged as the every-day center fielder with a career year. Cody Bellinger, acquired over the offseason to compensate for Soto’s departure, gave the Yankees the left-handed bat they needed behind Judge while providing elite defense at four positions. Ben Rice solidified himself as a potent power hitter and a catcher the Yankees can trust. Rookie Cam Schlittler joined the rotation in July, just before the All-Star break, and didn’t relinquish his rotation spot. Chisholm became the third Yankee to ever post a 30/30 season.

And at the deadline, general manager Brian Cashman, recognizing the roster was clunky and short on relievers, acquired three position players for more roster versatility and four right-handers to overhaul the bullpen.

“The depth is very impressive,” Bellinger said. “Just the type of guys we got here, man. The culture here is very impressive, is very fun to be a part of. And we just believe in each other.”

One of those position players added on the final day in July starred when it mattered most Tuesday night, putting together the kind of at-bat that wins games in October to send the Yankees to the postseason again for another chance at World Series title No. 28.

“We are coming for the big thing,” Caballero said.

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Sep 23, 2025, 01:23 AM ET

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres are headed back to the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons.

The Padres clinched a playoff berth with a 5-4, 11-inning win against the three-time NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Freddy Fermin, acquired from Kansas City at the trade deadline on July 31, singled in automatic runner Bryce Johnson with one out in the 11th to set off a wild celebration in front of a sellout crowd of 42,371 at Petco Park.

The Padres pulled to within 2½ games of the idle Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race and 2½ games behind the idle Chicago Cubs in the race for the National League’s first of three wild-card spots.

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Manny Machado, shirtless, wearing sunglasses and drenched with beer and champagne, says he feels good about the team’s chances in the playoffs.

“Everything is different. But we’ve got heart,” Machado said. “Everybody wants it. It’s always a challenge. Baseball’s a challenge. It’s hard.”

Fermin was being interviewed when Machado stopped by and poured a shot of tequila into his mouth.

“I believe with this staff we have, we are going to the World Series,” said Fermin, a catcher. “It is very special, this moment. I don’t have words for this moment. Very special. First step, we’ve got to keep rolling this.”

The Padres’ road appears to be tougher than last year, when they swept the Atlanta Braves in a home wild-card series to earn a shot at the rival Dodgers. San Diego led 2-1 before their bats went so cold that they didn’t score in the last 24 innings as they lost the series in five games. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series.

“What this group has done this year, and even last year, to put this into place, and for us to go to the postseason two years in a row for the first time since 2005-06, is truly special,” second baseman Jake Cronenworth said.

If the current standings hold, the Padres would visit the Cubs for a best-of-three wild-card series. The winner would move into the division series against the Brewers, who clinched their third straight division title Sunday and are in the postseason for the seventh time in eight seasons.

Manny Machado celebrates the Padres’ postseason berth with president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. Machado says he feels good about the team’s chances: “Everything is different. But we’ve got heart. Everybody wants it. It’s always a challenge.” Gregory Bull/AP

It has been an interesting season for the Padres, who led the division for much of April before slipping back as they played .500 ball in May and sub-.500 ball in June. The Dodgers never could open a big lead, but the Padres never could regain the lead, except for brief stretches in August.

A.J. Preller, president of baseball operations and general manager, pulled off a major overhaul at the trade deadline on July 31, acquiring reliever Mason Miller from the Athletics, Fermin from Kansas City and outfielders Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano from the Orioles.

The Padres became the first big league team to send three relievers to the All-Star Game when Jason Adam, closer Robert Suarez and left-hander Adrian Morejon were selected for the Midsummer Classic. Adam went down because of a season-ending quadriceps injury on Sept. 1.

The Padres were prone to offensive slumps, particularly on the road.

But there were some defensive highlights, including several home run robberies by right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr.

Tatis missed Monday’s clincher because of an undisclosed illness, but Machado included his teammate in the postgame celebration via FaceTime on his phone.

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Sep 14, 2025, 08:44 PM ETNEW YORK — Pete Alonso hit a three-run walk-off home run off Luis Curvelo, and…