The MLB playoffs are now set. Carl Crawford and Jonathan Papelbon couldn't hold a lead for the Boston Red Sox while Evan Longoria capped off an amazing comeback against the New York Yankees. The Red Sox are out of the playoffs with a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays are in with an 8-7 win against the Yankees, who secured a spot to October baseball weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals easily defeated the Houston Astros with an 8-0 victory while the Atlanta Braves blew what was a nine-game wild card lead a few weeks ago and lost to the best team in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3 to send the Cardinals to the playoffs.
Two extra innings games, a rain delay, blown saves and a masterful performance by St. Louis Ace Chris Carpenter on the final day of the MLB regular season now has the first round of the playoffs ready to go.
In the American League best-of-five Division Series, the Yankees will face the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers will play host to the Rays.
In the National League, the East Division champion Phillies will face the Cardinals while the Central champs Milwaukee Brewers will play the NL West Division champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
