The Rays accomplished the unimaginable if not the unbelievable Saturday, clinching their first-ever berth in the American League playoffs with a 7-2 win over the Twins.

The Rays came into the game needing a win to get in, and did exactly that behind a strong start from Scott Kazmir and their typical team-wide combination of big hits and bigger plays.

After Troy Percival struggled at the start of the ninth inning, Trever Miller came on to record the final out and launch a massive celebration at sold-out Tropicana Field.

“You know, we play pretty good,” said veteran Troy Percival. “But I think we celebrate better.” 

Carlos Pena had a two-run double, after an at-bat that was prolonged when a foul pop-up hit a support bar on the B-ring catwalk, to get them started. Fernando Perez and Cliff Floyd homered, and the Rays once again scored on a bases-loaded walk.

They are the second team in major-league history to make the playoffs the season after having the worst record; the fifth team, and first in the AL, to do so the season after losing 95 or more games; and the 11th team, second in the AL, to do so after finishing last the previous season.

The Rays will open the playoffs either Oct. 1 or Oct 2. The opponent (either the Angels, Twins or White Sox) and site will be determined by what happens over the final eight days of the season, whether they win the AL East or are the AL wild-card, and if they finish with the best record in the American League.

The Rays finished lost more than 90 games in each of their first 10 seasons and finished last nine times before this stunning turnaround.

“It’s not like other clubs,” team president Matt Silverman said. “This is something nobody thought would ever happen and we get to celebrate it. It’s a fantastic accomplishment and it only happens once; you only have your first time once.” ¶