The MLB postseason is set after the Cardinals and Rays won their respective league's Wild Cards on a drama-filled last night of the season, and it "had to be the greatest games played in one regular-season night in the history of baseball," according to ESPN's Tim Kurkjian. The Rays won the AL Wild Card following Evan Longoria's walk-off home run in the 12th inning, which occurred just minutes after the Orioles rallied in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Red Sox. Meanwhile, the Braves lost to the Phillies in 13 innings, giving the NL Wild Card to the Cardinals following their 8-0 defeat of the Astros. Kurkjian said, "We’ve played 200,000 games in the history of this sport and there cannot have been a regular-season night quite like tonight.” ESPN’s Stuart Scott said, “Twenty-four years in my professional career doing highlights -- this night, and the night that Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris’ record -- the most exciting, emotional baseball night I’ve ever done doing highlights” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 9/29). ESPN’s Barry Larkin said, "I think it might have been the single most intriguing, exciting night of baseball I have ever, ever witnessed.” ESPN’s Chris Singleton: “We’re sitting there and saying this is like a Saturday of college football or Sunday NFL: Intensity, emotion, excitement. Everybody complains about the baseball season being long, but tonight was worth the wait” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 9/29). In Boston, Chad Finn writes, "If you're a baseball fan first, it's a night you'll never forget" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/29). MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger called last night "one of the greatest nights in sports” (MLB Network, 9/29). YAHOO SPORTS' Tim Brown writes over "five hours on a Wednesday night in late September ... the game willed itself to incomprehensible greatness." MLB is debating changing the current format of the playoffs to allow two Wild Card teams, and Brown writes, "If this marked the last of the current design ... then it more than covered for six division races that lacked anything like drama" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/29).
REACTION FROM THE TWITTERSPHERE: Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal wrote on his Twitter feed, "Tweeps asking if best night of regular-season baseball I have seen. Answer is YES!!!" CBSSports.com's Steve Elling wrote, "MLB last night was greatest single meaningful day ever. Unless you are a Sox or Braves fan. But for any neutral fan, epic, epic, epic fare." ESPN's Mike Tirico wrote, "Thanks MLB for best regular season night ever. Whoever thought of a mid week finish to avoid Sunday..take a bow. Sorry sox fans, bummer." SI's Joe Lemire: "Since the NBA isn't currently using it, it seems MLB borrowed their catchphrase: 'where amazing happens.' What a night." Syndicated radio host Jim Rome: "Seriously, twitter is going to break tonight. And it's going to be MLB not the Shield that busts it." The N.Y. Times' Jack Curry: "I've covered every MLB post-season since '91. Never been involved in covering a more scintillating night of baseball. Insanely entertaining." Fox News' Andy Levy: "MLB should just cancel the postseason. Not gonna top tonight." USA Today's Bob Nightengale: "Who needs 2 wild-card teams? If MLB had expanded playoffs with two wild cards, this drama never would have happened. A historic night."
