tie breaker game tie breaker game game extension major_league_baseball mlb regular season played chicago_white_sox determine champion american_league played cellular field chicago illinois september won game home run lowest scoring game mlb tie breaker history advanced lost games twins failed qualify postseason game necessary teams finished season identical win loss records won coin flip late season rule awarded home field game baseball statistics tie breaker counted regular season game teams events game added regular season statistics background prior start season detroit_tigers cleveland indians division finishers previous season predicted strongest teams journalists espn indians lineup weakened injuries spent days season division lead tigers led finished season place games led season starting tie held share lead days dropped game leader twins spent season second place days lead despite going september twins took half game lead extra innings win september capped game sweep chicago twins maintained lead final game forcing chicago play september tigers earlier month won leaving twins tied atop records forcing tie breaker decide division tickets tie breaker sold hour end september game won right play cellular field home field result coin flip earlier september fans encouraged wear black clothing support game broadcast days rest starter twins started game summary box score day tuesday september cellular field chicago illinois held game scoreless early allowing innings game twins led fifth double twins runner scoring position entire game induced deep allowed advance hit deep center field caught tried score ball sacrifice fly delivered accurate throw home plate catcher blocked plate tagged end inning play drew praise game nice throw defensive gem run game scored designated hitter led seventh inning solo home run got ground allowed double following intentional walk relieved lasted innings allowing run relieved closer ninth recorded outs securing victory 30th save season twins batters combined hits bats batting average careers tie breaker combined strikeouts game saw lowest combined score tie breaker game mlb history runs lower score game national_league tie breaker series aftermath victory earned playoff berth win world series lost eventual pennant winning games game counted regular season game home run example 34th season total brought tie fourth league lowered earned run average game moved tie tenth best league fifth place outfielder won silver awards offensive performances regular season won gold glove award year tie breaker home field determined coin flip following season mlb amended rules leaving future tie breaker sites determined series performance based criteria beginning head head record teams
2008 American League Central tie-breaker game