Red Sox Eliminate Rays, Move on to American League Championship Series

The Boston Red Sox finished last in the American League East in the Covid shortened 2020 baseball season, but finished 92-70 in 2021, good for a Wild Card berth in the playoffs. After beating the New York Yankees in the Wild Card game, the Red Sox moved on to the Division Series against the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, who had the best regular season record in the league at 100-62.

It looked like Boston’s return to the post season might have gone as far as it was going to go after the Red Sox were shutout 5-0 in Game 1 of the best of five series. But the Red Sox bats exploded in Game 2 in a 14-6 Boston victory. The series then moved to Boston for Games 3 and 4. Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez won Game 3 with a two run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning for a 6-4 Boston victory. In Game 4 on October 11th, Kiki Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, diving in Danny Santana with the game winner in a 6-5 victory in the game, clinching the series for Boston.

The Red Sox will play the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series. Houston eliminated the Chicago White Sox on October 12th. The Red Sox and Astros met in the ALCS three years ago, with the Red Sox winning it on their way to their World Series Championship that year.