Rangers Win Home Field - Red Sox are Out

The Boston Red Sox completed their September collapse in horrific and historic fashion, falling out of the playoff chase by allowing two ninth-inning runs in a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

The Red Sox held a nine-game lead in the AL wild-card race after Sept. 3, but a 7-19 swoon left them tied with Tampa Bay entering the final day of the regular season. The Red Sox were 77-0 when leading after the 8th inning going into the final game of the season. They are 77-1 now.

THREE MINUTES after this game ended, the Rays completed their comeback from a 7-0 deficit with an 8-7 win over the New York Yankees in 12 innings.

After posting the best record in franchise history, the Texas Rangers are roaring back into the postseason for another chance to win it all — and thanks to Napoli’s pleas, they’ll start the quest at home.

Napoli broke a tie in the ninth inning with his fourth homer in two games, and the Texas Rangers finally clinched home-field advantage in the AL division series with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

With 10 wins in their last 11 regular-season games, the Rangers broke the 1999 club’s mark for victories, improving their record for the fourth straight season under Manager Ron Washington.

No Rangers team has had more wins in the regular season. The 2011 team passed the 1999 Rangers, who won 95 games.  This Rangers team exceeded the expectations of club CEO Nolan Ryan, who predicted 90 to 95 wins before spring training started.  Only the New York Yankees, with 97 wins, won one more game than the 96 win Rangers in the American League.

The Angels wrapped up their 50th anniversary season by missing the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 2000-01, Scioscia’s first two years in charge.

The Tampa Bay Rays will visit Texas on Friday for the opening game of the ALDS.