Red Sox clinch playoff berth with huge turnaround after poor start

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Julio AguilarAs the Boston Red Sox celebrated an improbable postseason berth at Tropicana Field, with Champagne and beer flowing all around, the clubhouse soundtrack seemed appropriate.

>“Stayin’ Alive.’’

>“I think that pretty much says it all,’’ left fielder Roman Anthony said Sunday. “We pretty much stayed alive when nobody else thought we could. Now here we are.’’

>The Red Sox were 32-46 and 15 1/2 games back in the AL East race on June 24. They have since gone 52-25 and will be in the playoffs.

>The Red Sox lost 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in their series finale, so couldn’t take care of things themselves. But about an hour after the game finished, the Houston Astros lost 4-2 to the Atlanta Braves, allowing the Red Sox to secure a wild-card spot.

>Shortly after the Astros-Braves result went final, Red Sox players, coaches and staff members gathered near the Tropicana Field mound for a team photograph.

>“I really don’t care how we got in, as long as we got in,’’ shortstop Trevor Story said.

>Interim manager Chad Tracy was in place for much of the turnaround. Since being appointed on April 26 following the dismissal of Alex Cora, the Red Sox have gone 74-55.

>“Look, we were not in a good spot,’’ Tracy said. “We were not playing good ball. But it shows you that if you stick to it, good things can happen. I couldn’t be more proud of this group.’’

>First baseman Willson Contreras said he kept the faith, even when things trended downward, and the reward was sweet.

>“It’s hard not to have some tears over this,’’ Contreras said. “It’s a great accomplishment, but I don’t want this team to stop here. I want to keep going. We have proven that you can get hot and overcome a lot of big odds.’’

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