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Here’s what Alex Cora, Craig Breslow said after Red Sox playoff-clinching win
“Because at every challenge, they’ve shown that resilience and the ability to overcome it.”
The Red Sox clinched a playoff berth to kick off the final regular season series of 2025 with a thrilling 4-3 walk-off win over the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. It was Ceddanne Rafaela who clobbered a RBI triple in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete Boston’s 12th walk-off victory of the year.
A rowdy celebration ensued on the field and in the home clubhouse after the game, which included Red Sox manager Alex Cora, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, and other team executives like president Sam Kennedy.
Those higher-ups within the organization were the ones who chose to extend Rafaela with a team-friendly eight-year, $50 million deal in April 2024. That move has proven to be well worth it several times over the course of the 2025 season, and none more than Friday’s exciting win that meant so much to an organization with high hopes in 2025.
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After the game and the team’s raucous celebration, Cora spoke with NESN’s Jahmai Webster on the field and explained what it feels like to reach the postseason after four strenuous years.
“Special. It’s special,” Cora said. “I know what we accomplished in 2018 was awesome. Winning the World Series is the ultimate goal. But to come in this year with expectations and everything that we went through, from injuries to struggles to different personnel, and to be able to win enough games to play in October, it means a lot.”
Dating back to spring training, following the additions of elite players like ace Garrett Crochet and veteran infielder Alex Bregman, this year’s Red Sox team felt different than the last few years. Cora explained how he helped foster a winning mindset in his players beginning in Fort Myers in February.
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“One thing I told them in spring training was, ‘We have to enjoy it and we have to hit our standards every single day,’” he said. “Some days are gonna be great, others are gonna be ugly. But, if we do the things that we’re supposed to do on a daily basis, we’re gonna be OK. It was a new group that needed to learn how to win. It took us a while, but when they got that, it’s been fun. It’s been great, and I’m very proud of all of them.”
Cora gave a passionate speech to his club after the game and before their clubhouse festivities. He explained how delighted he was with the Red Sox’ continued resiliency after their MLB-leading 12th walk-off victory to cement themselves a spot in the postseason.
“I’m really proud of all of you guys,” Cora said. “Through the years, we went through a lot. Injuries, and other stuff, and then we struggled, and we got up. We kept going and going and going. Today was a perfect example of a team win. Everybody contributed. From the guys playing, to the guys in the dugout, to the clubbies, to everybody. Everybody contributed.
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“You could feel the energy in that game. So I wanna thank you for the effort. I wanna thank you for everything you guys have done. But, you guys know, we didn’t come here to play only 162. We came here to win the World Series. Let’s [expletive] go.”
As for Breslow, the decision-maker made a major mid-season trade, which sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants and at the time declared that he believed his club would win more games without him than with him the rest of the way. His choice felt gutting to the outside world in June, but so far, it’s worked out pretty well.
Breslow spoke with NESN’s Alanna Rizzo in the clubhouse mid-champagne party, donning a backwards hat and a red T-shirt that read “October Baseball” with Boston’s signature “B” logo.
“I’m obviously really excited, really proud of the players, the coaching staff,” Breslow said of the Red Sox’ milestone. “A lot of contributions up and down the roster. I think the most important thing is to recognize how precious every win is, how precious every chance to get to the postseason is. This is about the players and the staff. It’s been really fun to watch.”
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He indirectly discussed some of those big moves he’s made this season and complimented the team’s dedication to pushing forward in the face of change.
“Because at every challenge, they’ve shown that resilience and the ability to overcome it,” Breslow said. “So you’ve got no choice but to believe. We’ve had guys get hurt, we’ve had some pretty significant trades, and they just keep coming and showing up every single day and playing good team baseball. Like I said, this is about them.”
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