Oct 11, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Enrique Hernandez (5) reacts after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly against the Tampa Bay Rays to score pinch runner Danny Santana (not pictured) during the ninth inning during game four of the 2021 ALDS at Fenway Park. The Boston Red Sox won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
By Matt Clapp on

The Boston Red Sox are going to the ALCS after a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the ALDS on Monday at Fenway Park.

Boston led the game 5-0 after crushing the heck out of the baseball in the bottom of the third inning. The inning featured the Red Sox hitting the ball off the Green Monster in three straight plate appearances (leading to two of the runs), but the big swing was a three-run homer by Rafael Devers. All five runs in the inning came with two outs.

But the Rays came back. The Tampa Bay bullpen would go on to throw five straight scoreless innings, and the offense chipped away. In the top of the eighth, 2020 postseason hero Randy Arozarena came through with an RBI single to tie the game 5-5.

And in the bottom of the eighth, Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier made a ridiculous throw to third base on a double play.

So, things were falling apart for the Red Sox, but they got it together in the bottom of the ninth. With one out and runners on second and third, Kiké Hernández hit a sacrifice fly to give Boston a 6-5 walk-off, series-clinching victory.

The AL East champion Rays entered the postseason as the AL favorite to reach the World Series, while the Red Sox needed a Wild Card Game victory to even get into the ALDS. But they put together a terrific series to come away with an impressive ALCS berth.

The Red Sox will face the winner of the ALDS series between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros (who have a 2-1 lead) in the ALCS.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.

He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

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