BOSTON -- Early Tuesday afternoon, a Red Sox assistant clubhouse attendant had 15 cases of beer on a hand truck and was rolling it into the second floor of the clubhouse, just in case.

About seven hours later, a crate filled with celebratory alcohol was being removed from the room because the Sox had failed to beat the Blue Jays and needed to wait and see if the Angels would be able to beat the Rangers, and thus give Boston its sixth postseason berth in the last seven years.

After Toronto dismissed the Sox, 8-7, the home clubhouse was quiet. Many players had left the ballpark and the protective plastic sheets remained tucked above the players' lockers. Even the televisions were off, despite the fact the other game had just started. After David Ortiz spoke briefly with the media, he said he would be back to celebrate if the Rangers lost.

They did, and at 12:51 a.m. the Red Sox players began to celebrate in a closed-door party with cigars, champagne and beers. Their alcohol-soaked hats read: "Wild Card Champions."

Unlike past celebrations, in which the team would rejoice with one another and then take it back onto the field to continue partying with their fans, this time the lights at Fenway Park were off. The local establishments were empty and the only noise you could faintly hear came from the clubhouse as "90 percent" of the players returned to celebrate their accomplishment of another playoff berth.

"We came in this together and we should celebrate together," said veteran Mike Lowell, who was brought out of the clubhouse to answer a few questions.

"We're excited. Anytime you make the playoffs it's a great accomplishment, and that was our goal at the start of the season," said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "Now we just have to go out there and try to play well and win a championship. It doesn't matter how you do it as long as you're in. Obviously the game was pretty intense and we couldn't find a way to win, but it really doesn't matter how we do it. We're excited and we can't wait for the playoffs."

Pedroia went home after the Red Sox game to put his son to bed, then returned to the clubhouse. Ortiz said he went out with the plan to return if needed. Jason Bay's agent was in town, so Bay met him for a drink and was following the Rangers game on his cell phone.

"It's a little different waiting around for another game to end, but at the same time you're in the playoffs and that's where you want to be," Bay said. "I have a feeling this will never get old."

Bay said the party was a little more subdued than normal given the situation, but Lowell said the celebration was worth the wait.

"It's up there, man," he said. "We play from the first day of spring training and this is the goal. I know it wasn't the ideal thing, we would much rather do it on the field after victory, but we've battled hard all year to get to this point. I don't care how it comes. We deserve to celebrate just like the other teams that made the playoffs. We're excited to be here, and hopefully this is step one. I think we have our team where we want it to be and we're excited. I think guys feel the ultimate satisfaction."

The remaining five games mean nothing, as the Red Sox will prepare to face the Angels in the ALDS, beginning either Wednesday or Thursday next week in Anaheim.

"When you play Anaheim, you better play your 'A' game," said Ortiz. "Those guys can wear you out. They run, they hit, they play good defense. They've got good pitching. Don't let yourself get caught in a situation where just because you played good in the regular season against them, or you played good 20 years ago in the playoffs and beat them. It's a totally different game."

"We like our chances," said Pedroia. "We have a great pitching staff and our offense has been swinging the bat good. We've lost a few games in a row, but when playoff time comes there are a lot of guys who have been through it, so I think that's a positive."

jmcdonal@projo.com