Yankees Clinch AL East Title After 4-2 Win Over Boston

Sports Betting News - September 28th, 2009 - Written by Scott

The New York Yankees completed their sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 4-2 win at home on Sunday.  More importantly, the Yankees clinched the American League East title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  New York, which is returning to the playoffs after last year's absence, had to come from behind to win on Sunday and this gives them their 49th come from behind victory of the year which is most in the Major Leagues.  The win also marks their 100th of the season which is also the most in MLB.

"Everything is clicking right now," winning pitcher Andy Pettitte said. "When you miss out, it makes you a little more hungry to get back there."

The Red Sox had a 2-1 lead going into the sixth inning before Hideki Matsui singled home Mark Teixeiro and Alex Rodriguez to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.  Teixeiro also added some insurance with his solo homerun in the eighth.  Boston had their chance in the ninth with two runners on base, but could not capitalize and now have lost nine out of their last ten games against the Yankees.  

Boston has now lost five of their last seven games. The Red Sox are still in control of the wild-card race, despite this loss, and need just two wins to beat out the Texas Rangers for the last spot in the playoffs.

The Yankees still do not know who they will face in the first round of the playoffs, but it will probably be either Minnesota or Detroit.  They can now spend the remainder of their games resting their starters for the playoffs.  The Yankees were favored from the beginning to win the World Series, but realize that there is still much work yet to be done according to catcher Jorge Posada.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Right now we're very happy with what we've done. Maybe we can do a little more later."

The win gives the New York Yankees their 11th AL East title since 1995.  They will get one hour to choose which playoff schedule they prefer once all of the teams are announced.  They can elect to start on either Oct. 7 or Oct. 8th.  This year, their series is tied at nine and the Yankees could possibly face the Red Sox again.  But for now, they are just celebrating making it back into the playoffs.

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