Relive one of the craziest nights in the history of MLB's postseason race: 'Game 162' from 2011
Relive the best night ever, 'Game 162' from 2011
Baseball fans have not forgotten where they were or who they were with on Sept. 28, 2011. What started off as just another day in another MLB postseason race turned into something much bigger (and better) as the sun went down.
Going into that evening, the postseason picture was still a bit blurry. The Red Sox needed a win and a Rays loss to clinch their spot in the postseason and sent Jon Lester to the hill at Camden Yards, where the Orioles looked to play spoiler. The Rays were hosting the Yankees, but needed a little help from the O's to avoid a one-game playoff against Boston. The Cardinals and Braves were tied for the NL Wild Card spot and it also looked like a one-game playoff might be needed to settle the score in that race.
All told, there were six games that day that had a direct impact on the postseason race. They did not disappoint.
To celebrate the four-year anniversary of one of the most incredible, head-spinning nights in MLB history, we combed through the Twitter archives to recreate the evening with all of the authentic excitement -- and the GIFs, so many GIFs -- it deserves.
Play ball! Let's go Braves!!!
- Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 28, 2011Ryan Howard lines an RBI double to right to put the Phils on top early ... http://t.co/7s0OPBAF
- Phillies (@Phillies) September 28, 2011Sac fly RBI for Chipper...Braves tie the game 1-1 in the 1st.
- Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 28, 2011Granderson scores on an error giving Yanks the early lead ... http://t.co/MGencOe0
- New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 28, 2011Pedroia hands the Red Sox an early lead with an RBI single to center in the 3rd ... http://t.co/yFNqUsY9
- Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) September 28, 2011BREAKING: Yankees take 5-0 lead in second inning on Mark Teixeira's two-out grand slam off David Price.
- MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2011
2-run HOME RUN for Dan Uggla! Braves take a 3-1 lead.
- Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2011J.J. Hardy launches home run No. 30 to put Orioles on top ... http://t.co/lbkG5JL2
- Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 29, 2011Pujols laces one off the wall to give the Cards an early lead ... http://t.co/U7PbWFo1
- St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 29, 2011Berkman extends Cards' lead with an RBI single to right ... http://t.co/XRomuL4K
- St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 29, 2011Scutaro comes home on a balk to tie the game in the 4th ... http://t.co/4922bBIu
- Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) September 29, 2011Freese ropes an RBI double to extend the Cards' lead in the first ... http://t.co/Dr06nolz
- St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 29, 2011Tex blasts second homer of the game to make it 6-0 Yanks ... http://t.co/37riaTBA
- New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 29, 2011Here's another look at Pedroia's solo homer to give the Red Sox a 3-2 lead ... http://t.co/Z2nSkx9Z
- Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) September 29, 2011
Carpenter helps his own cause with RBI single to extend Cards' lead ... http://t.co/cSEw3vt6
- St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 29, 2011Hunter Pence nails Dan Uggla at the plate to end the sixth ... http://t.co/UgzPfCAp
- Phillies (@Phillies) September 29, 2011
Scutaro throws out Mark Reynods trying to score in the fifth ... http://t.co/jhsK3vI8
- Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) September 29, 2011
Andruw Jones extends the Yankees' lead with a solo shot in the fifth ... http://t.co/LTTbrZbH
- New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 29, 2011Ibanez scores on a throwing error to pull the Phillies within a run ... http://t.co/SPQoZGGe
- Phillies (@Phillies) September 29, 2011BREAKING: Tarp placed on field in Baltimore with @RedSox leading @Orioles 3-2 in 7th. #postseason
- MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2011Welcome to the Jungle...Kimbrel enters the game.
- Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2011Chase Utley ties the game in the 9th with a sac fly ... http://t.co/GMe5pp4x
- Phillies (@Phillies) September 29, 2011BREAKING: Rays pull within one, 7-6, on Evan Longoria's two-out, three-run homer in 8th ... http://t.co/fspYVM6O
- MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2011
Just like that, Evan Longoria is trending on Twitter. And why shouldn't he be? ...
- Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 29, 2011Carp's shutout has Cards waiting on Braves ... http://t.co/qO71rrwQ
- St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 29, 2011You're going to want to see this: Dan Johnson with the game-tying blast ... http://t.co/CJAG0f2V
- Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 29, 2011
Rangers beat Angels, 3-1, clinch No. 2 seed and will host WC winner Friday 5:07 pm ET. Tigers face Yankees in NY Friday 8:37 pm ET.
- MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2011Game has restarted - bottom of the 7th
- Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) September 29, 2011Game is going to the 13th inning...
- Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2011Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?! #wild #postseason
- MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2011Pence puts the Phillies up 4-3 with a seeing-eye single in the 13th ... http://t.co/fCjmcDc8
- Phillies (@Phillies) September 29, 2011
The Braves have lost to the Phillies 4-3 in the 13th. Thanks to everyone for hanging with us tonight and all season long.
- Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2011
BREAKING: Orioles stun Red Sox, 4-3, on Robert Andino's walk-off hit. Now all eyes turn to Tropicana Field ... #postseason
- MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2011
EVAN HELP US! Evan Longoria's second late homer - a walk-off shot - gives Rays 8-7 win over Yanks and AL Wild Card. Rays face Texas in ALDS.
- MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2011
So this how the #postseason looks: NYY (1) vs DET (3) and TEX (2) vs TB (4) in AL; PHI (1) vs STL (4) and MIL (2) vs ARI (3) in NL.
- MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2011Did that really just happen? Best night of baseball ever? RT this if you are fired up for the #postseason.
- MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2011