MLB Playoff Picture: The Greatest Season-Ending Day in MLB History

The Major League Baseball season spans 162 games that are played over six months. Because of that, some people think the season is far too long.

If September 28th, 2011 taught us anything, it's that the season isn't nearly long enough.

At the start of the day, the playoff picture was in total disarray. Both wild-card races were deadlocked, the seeds were yet to be determined and we didn't know a single matchup.

These things were going to be determined by a handful of games on Wednesday's slate. It was an utterly mad proposition, and these games did not fail to disappoint when it came to actually getting down to the madness.

Why don't we take a stroll through the madness and see how it all unfolded?

Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers started the day with a chance to earn the No. 2 seed in the American League playoffs. All they had to do was defeat the Cleveland Indians at home and then hope for the Texas Rangers to lose their game at the Los Angeles Angels.

The Tigers managed to hold up their end of the bargain, beating the Indians 5-4.

The Tigers were down 3-0 early in the game and then gave up a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. With the game tied at 4-4, All-Star shortstop Jhonny Peralta launched a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth that proved to be the difference.

But in order for the Tigers to wrap up the No. 2 seed, the Rangers needed to lose. For that result, we go to Anaheim...

Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Rangers also held up their end of the bargain, beating the Angels 3-1 to clinch the No. 2 seed.

For that, they have Mike Napoli to thank. He hit two home runs, including a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Neftali Feliz came in and nailed it down for his 32nd save.

As a result, the Rangers will host the AL Wild Card winner, and the Tigers will head to New York to take on the Yankees. That series will start on Friday.

As for the AL wild-card race...

Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles

Needing a win to stay in the wild-card race, the Red Sox turned to Jon Lester on three days of rest against the Orioles, a team he has owned throughout his career.

Lester was shaky, but he managed to give the Sox six strong innings. Thanks in large part to his efforts and a home run from Dustin Pedroia, the Sox were able to take a 3-2 lead.

And then the rains came. When the pressure was at its highest, the Sox and Orioles had to retreat to their respective dugouts.

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

The New York Yankees started the day with the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs already wrapped up. The Tampa Bay Rays started the day tied with the Red Sox for the wild-card lead, and they needed a win.

Things got off to a bad start for the Rays. David Price allowed a grand slam to Mark Teixeira in the second inning, and he would add another home run in the fourth. Before they knew it, the Rays were down 7-0.

In the eighth inning, the Rays came alive. They scored six runs, the last three of which came on a bomb by Evan Longoria. They went to the ninth trailing 7-6.

The Rays were down to their last strike in the bottom of the ninth, and things looked bleak with Dan Johnson at the plate. Against all odds, Johnson lined a ball to right field that just barely cleared the fence for a game-tying home run.

Back to Baltimore

Eventually, the Red Sox and Orioles came back out onto the field and resumed playing.

The Sox squandered a few scoring opportunities, but the bullpen managed to hold the lead. In the bottom of the ninth, they turned the ball over to Jonathan Papelbon.

Papelbon struck out the first two hitters in the ninth but then gave up a double to Chris Davis. With Red Sox Nation on the edge of its collective seat, Papelbon gave up yet another double, this one to Nolan Reimold.

Just like that, the game was tied at 3-3. Next up was Robert Andino, and he hit a single to left to deliver the game-winning run.

Boston's season was officially put on the brink.

Back to Tampa Bay

The Rays and Yanks ended up needing 12 innings to settle things. Evan Longoria made sure it didn't go any further.

With one out in the bottom of the 12, Longoria hit a line drive that just barely snuck over the left-field wall. It was a walk-off home run that gave the Rays an 8-7 win.

Couple that with Boston's walk-off loss, and the Rays are your 2011 American League Wild Card champions after shaving nine games off the Red Sox's lead in less than a month.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers sent Zack Greinke to the mound against the Pirates in hopes that he would deliver them the No. 2 seed in the National League playoffs.

Greinke delivered, tossing six innings of two-run ball to lead the Brewers to a 7-3 win. Jonathan Lucroy, Corey Hart and Carlos Gomez got Greinke's back with home runs.

With the win, the No. 2 seed was officially Milwaukee's, meaning the Brewers will open the National League Division Series at home. They would play either the Atlanta Braves or the Arizona Diamondbacks depending on what happened with the Wild Card.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks entered Wednesday hoping to combine a win over the Dodgers with a loss by the Brewers, which would give them the No. 2 seed in the NL playoffs.

Sadly, the Brewers won, which made Arizona's tilt with the Dodgers a moot point. As it is, the Diamondbacks lost 7-5.

The Diamondbacks have the No. 3 seed and would play either the Philadelphia Phillies or Brewers depending on what happened with the Wild Card.

St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros

As for that Wild Card, the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves entered the day tied for the lead. Both teams needed to win to prolong their seasons for at least one more game.

The Cardinals gave that task to former Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter against the Astros, and he delivered in a big way. Carpenter tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out 11, and the Cardinals won 8-0.

With a win in their pockets, the Cardinals retreated to the clubhouse to watch the action unfold in Atlanta.

Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves

The Cardinals turned to Carpenter to get a win, and the Braves turned to Tim Hudson to get a win against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Hudson did his part, pitching 6.1 innings of two-run ball. By the time the ninth inning rolled around, the Braves had a 3-2 lead.

Alas, Craig Kimbrel blew it. He walked three men and gave up a game-tying sac fly to Chase Utley, and the game would eventually go to extra innings tied at 3-3.

In the top of the 13th, the Phillies broke through. Hunter Pence hit an RBI single to put the Phillies up 4-3. The Braves went quietly in the bottom of the 13th.

Just like that, the Braves' collapse was complete, and their season was over.

What Does It All Mean?

American League Playoffs

Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees (series will start Friday in New York)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers (series will start Friday in Texas)

National League Playoffs

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies (series will start Saturday in Philadelphia)

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers (series will start Saturday in Milwaukee)