The tie-breaker game was necessary after both teams finished the season with win–loss records of 91–71 and thus tied for the second Wild Card position in the AL.
[6] Although other teams including the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Yankees had vied for a Wild Card spot, the Indians, Rangers, and Rays all remained in contention until the end of the season.
[7] Thus, the possibility existed (had the Indians lost and the Rays and Rangers won) for a three-way tie for the two Wild Card spots, which would have required several tie-breaker games to settle.
[8] However, all three teams won, leaving the Indians definitively in the Wild Card Game at 92–70 and the Rays and Rangers tied at 91–71 for the second spot.
[10][9][3] Desmond Jennings opened the first inning with a single, but was thrown out at second base trying to stretch the hit into a double.
Wil Myers then walked, advanced to third base on singles by Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria, and finally scored on a sacrifice fly by Delmon Young.
Rays starter David Price struck out leadoff batter Ian Kinsler, then allowed a walk to Elvis Andrus but picked him off and finished the inning by retiring Alex Ríos.
The next batter, David DeJesus, hit a double to right field that scored Longoria and put the Rays ahead, 4–1.
[11] After a single and a stolen base from Andrus, Ríos doubled in the bottom half of the sixth to cut the score to 4–2.