The Boston Red Sox are heading to the postseason, but not because they won their last game. They got in because the Houston Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves . This is the kind of weird twist that makes baseball the most frustrating and exciting game on earth. According to reports, Boston clinched a spot in the 2026 playoffs despite dropping recent matches against the Tampa Bay Rays .
It is a strange way to celebrate. The team did not finish first in their division. They are out of the race for the AL East title. Instead, they secured one of the three American League Wild Card spots.
However, after the win, it was Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees that was playing in the clubhouse .
What was interesting was how the Sox's clinched.
It was Mike Yastrzemski , the grandson of Red Sox legend Carl, who cracked a three-run homer to break the tie with the Astros.
Mike Yastrzemski smashes a 3-run blast to put the @Braves ahead 🔥
With a win today the Braves will clinch the NL East 👀 pic.twitter.com/0HkUeZoqwP— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2026
Another Yaz came through for Boston.
Yeah, it is a little weird to celebrate after a loss, but the reality is this team went on a heck of a midsummer run that some are calling history-making. The team went on a winning streak equaling a franchise record set 80 years ago.
"When you work as hard as we have worked, it was almost July [before we got going], and to fight as hard as we did, to put ourselves in the position we did, I don't think you care much how [the spot is clinched]," said interim manager Chad Tracy. "You just want to see your ticket get punched."
Congrats on your first postseason, Trace! pic.twitter.com/zj2GXmgALk
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 20, 2026
