BOSTON – Scott Harris wasn’t necessarily taking a victory lap after the Tigers clinched a playoff berth Saturday for the second straight season. He wasn’t seeking any validation.

But the Tigers president of baseball operations, champagne- and beer-soaked, was beaming with pride.

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For five months, the Tigers were the toast of baseball. After finishing last season on a 33-13 sprint into their first postseason since 2014, they were the first team to 10 wins, to 20 wins, to 30 wins, to 40 wins, to 50 wins this season.

On Aug. 23, they were 25 games over .500 and led the Central Division by 11.5 games.

Then the tires started leaking air and losses started piling up, some in almost inexplicable fashion. And as things veered dangerously off the track, seemingly headed toward

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