The Boston Red Sox were the first American League team to clinch a 2018 playoff berth. Boston secured its postseason place on September 11, 2018, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 7–2 at Fenway Park and improving to 99–46.
The decisive blow was a three-run, seventh-inning home run by utility player Brock Holt. The victory guaranteed that Boston would finish high enough in the American League standings to reach at least the Wild Card Game, though the club had much larger ambitions.
A common mix-up is confusing the first playoff berth with the first division title. Boston later clinched the AL East on September 20, while Cleveland became the first team to clinch a 2018 division championship. The Red Sox ultimately finished 108–54, posted the best record in baseball, and defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series.
The 2018 season was one of the greatest in franchise history. Boston also became the first team that year to reach 100 wins and set a franchise record with 108 regular-season victories.