The RailCats’ celebration started on the field Monday with their second straight walk-off win at the Steel Yard, a 3-2 decision over Lincoln.
It kicked into high gear in the clubhouse as they watched Fargo-Moorhead lose at Winnipeg.
The RailCats’ win combined with Fargo’s 8-3 loss gave them a first American Association postseason berth since 2013, when they won the championship.
The RailCats (57-43), Fargo and Kansas City all finished with the same record, with the T-Bones beating Saint Paul on Monday. But the RailCats held the tiebreakers for the wild card, with a 10-3 season series edge over Fargo and 7-6 over Kansas City.
They open the playoffs against South Division winner Wichita (61-38), with Games 1 and 2 at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Steel Yard.
After clinching the spot, the team returned to the field to pop champagne as players, owner Pat Salvi, general manager Brian Lyter and manager Greg Tagert addressed a smattering of fans who remained.
“They’re not perfect,” Tagert said. “They’re interesting to watch, they’re fun to watch, they’re frustrating. But I’ve been as impressed with this club as any I’ve ever managed. You want to use phrases like grit, determination, resiliency — it all fits.”
Wilfredo Gimenez delivered a walk-off single with two outs in the ninth after the RailCats won 2-1 Sunday on a walk-off error in the 10th.
Frank Martinez tripled with one out. After Cameron Newell struck out, Gimenez lined a first-pitch slider in front of diving left fielder Brandon Jacobs.
“I saw the ball hit the ground and I went crazy,” Gimenez said. “Everybody was excited, coming to me.”
The RailCats trailed 1-0 and 2-1, and tied the score in the second and seventh innings. Martinez went 4-for-5 with two doubles, including one in the seventh with two outs to drive in the tying run.
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The RailCats set a league record with their 22nd one-run win.
“We didn’t feel pressure — it was exciting,” Gimenez said. “We’ve been doing it all year.”
Alex Gunn set a league record by making his 25th start of the season, allowing two runs in five-plus innings. After Drasen Johnson went 1 1/3, Daniel Minor (3-1) went 2 2/3 perfect innings.
Minor, who the RailCats acquired in the Charle Rosario trade Aug. 9, was making his first relief appearance with his new team in an all-hands-on-deck situation. He pitched 21 games out of the bullpen with the Goldeyes and made six starts with the RailCats, including taking the loss in Friday’s series opener.
Minor entered Monday with runners on the corners with one out in the seventh and induced a double play. He had four strikeouts.
“I knew it was going to come down to the wire, so I did everything possible to be ready to throw as many innings as I could to help us win,” Minor said.
“If we didn’t win, we were going home anyway and I wouldn’t have to worry about pitching. I was going out there for the next inning if I had to. But I’m glad we walked off when we did.”
When the RailCats won, Winnipeg was leading Fargo 5-2 in the seventh, with the start of the game having been delayed an hour by rain.
The audio of the game was broadcast in the stadium. The team retreated to the clubhouse, gathering around a TV as the video and audio streamed.
The players erupted when the final out was recorded. Rosario (11-5), who also set the league record with his 25th start, allowed two runs in seven innings to help his former team.
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff