Tigers beat Red Sox, 2-1, clinch playoff spot

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News on Sep 27, 2025

Published in Baseball

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Regardless of their angst-ridden ride through the end of August and through September — going on a 27-40 slide and squandering the division title and a first-round bye — the Detroit Tigers are going to the postseason for the second straight season.

It’s not truly a collapse if you are still standing, right?

The Tigers secured a spot in the wild-card round Saturday, holding off the Boston Red Sox, 2-1, at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox secured their postseason spot Friday night. So as it stands, the Tigers sitting as the sixth seed and would play at Cleveland on Tuesday.

Jahmai Jones continues to spark the Tigers’ offense. In fact, he was the lone spark Saturday.

His leadoff single in the first inning was the only mark on Boston rookie lefty Connelly Early’s line through the first four innings.

The Tigers were down 1-0 when he came to bat again in the fifth with the bases loaded and two outs and ripped a single to left, scoring a pair of runs.

Jones has produced five hits, including two doubles and homer, with five RBIs in the last three games.

With Boston manager Alex Cora bringing one left-handed pitcher after another at the Tigers to keep lefty slugger Kerry Carpenter and Zach McKinstry on the bench, the production from Jones has been vital.

Right-hander Keider Montero was tasked with getting through the top half of the Red Sox lineup, which was without Jarren Duran, Trevor Story and Alex Bregman. Mission accomplished.

He allowed a run with seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. The run came on a two-out single by No. 9 hitter Nick Sogard in the second inning.

Shortstop Javier Báez prevented a second run from scoring, making a sensational diving catch on a checked-swing blooper in short left field by left-handed hitting David Hamilton.

Báez was shaded up the middle but got a good jump and made the catch on a full-extension dive.

A fleet of Tigers relievers closed the game out: Brant Hurter (one inning), Rafael Montero (1 1/3 innings), Tyler Holton (1 1/3 innings) and Will Vest, who dispatched the Red Sox in the ninth and earned his 23rd save.

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