bjtheman1
Bench Warmer
Sunday’s American League Capsules
KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) —With the AL East championship already in hand, the Tampa Bay Rays outlasted the Kansas City Royals 3-2 in 12 innings Sunday to head into the playoffs on a winning note.
Manager Joe Maddon’s team learned it had clinched the division title and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs in the ninth inning when New York lost at Boston, and the Rays briefly exchanged high-fives in the dugout.
The Yankees and Tampa Bay began the day tied at 95-66, with both teams already assured of postseason spots. To win the division, New York needed to finish ahead of the Rays, who held the tiebreaker after winning the season series 10-8.
Tampa Bay will start the playoffs at home Wednesday against AL West champion Texas. The Yankees are the wild card and open Wednesday at AL Central champion Minnesota.
Carlos Pena(notes) hit a tying, two-run double in the ninth for the Rays off All-Star closer Joakim Soria(notes), his first blown save since May 6 and the first runs he had allowed in 24 innings.
Pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli(notes) singled with one out in the 12th against rookie Dusty Hughes(notes) (1-3) and stole second. Baldelli scored when Kelly Shoppach(notes) hit a grounder through the legs of third baseman Wilson Betemit(notes), who was charged with an error.
When closer Rafael Soriano(notes) finished off the Royals for his AL-leading 45th save in 48 chances, the Rays streamed onto the field to celebrate.
Jeff Niemann(notes) (12-8) struck out all three batters he faced in the 11th.
Red Sox 8, Yankees 4=
BOSTON (AP) - New York fell short of a second straight AL East title and completed a rare late-season fade with a loss to Boston.
The Yankees were 66-37 at the start of play on Aug. 1 but went just 29-30 the rest of the way. It was only the third time the Yankees led through games of Labor Day and failed to finish first, according to STATS LLC. The others were in 1906 and 1944.
The Yankees are going to the postseason for the 49th time - the fourth as a wild-card team. It’s their 15th playoff appearance in 16 years.
Jed Lowrie(notes) homered twice, J.D. Drew(notes) also connected and Boston had two double steals in the sixth inning.
John Lackey(notes) (14-11) struck out 10 in 7 2-3 innings for the Red Sox, who will miss the playoffs for the second time in eight years. They dropped from second place at 95-67 last season to third place at 89-73.
Dustin Moseley(notes) (4-4) gave up four runs and five hits in five innings for the Yankees.
Blue Jays 2, Twins 1=
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Edwin Encarnacion(notes) and Adam Lind(notes) added two more home runs to Toronto’s major league-leading total, lifting the Blue Jays over playoff-bound Minnesota in manager Cito Gaston’s last game.
Toronto went deep 257 times this season, matching the 1996 Baltimore Orioles for the third-most in history. The 1997 Seattle Mariners have the record, with 264 homers.
Gaston finished 211-201 in his second stint with the Blue Jays, who had eight wins in their last 10 games to reach 85-77.
Encarnacion hit 21 homers this season, seven against the Twins and five in this four-game series. The Blue Jays went deep 10 times this weekend at Target Field, so far one of the hardest ballparks to hit one out of.
Nick Blackburn(notes) (10-12), expected to be the starter if Minnesota’s first-round series lasts four games, tossed seven innings of three-hit ball, rebounding from a rough start last week.
Marc Rzepczynski(notes) (4-4) allowed only an unearned run in seven innings. Shawn Camp(notes) got his second save.
Angels 6, Rangers 2=
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Peter Bourjos(notes) hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and Los Angeles beat Texas in their regular-season finale.
The Angels (80-82) still had their first losing record since 2003 after winning the division five of the previous six seasons. The Rangers (90-72) are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
Texas slugger Josh Hamilton(notes) went 1 for 4 and finished with a .359 batting average, the highest in the majors.
Dan Haren(notes) (5-4) allowed two runs over six innings for the Angels and finished 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA his last eight starts. Hideki Matsui(notes) had a two-run homer.
Dustin Nippert(notes) (4-5) took the loss.
Tigers 4, Orioles 2=
BALTIMORE (AP) - Brandon Inge(notes) homered, Johnny Damon(notes) singled home the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning and Detroit beat Baltimore to end a six-game skid and avoid a losing season.
The Tigers finished 81-81, the second time in five seasons under manager Jim Leyland that they failed to have a winning record.
Nick Markakis(notes) had three hits and an RBI for the Orioles, who for the seventh time this season failed to build upon a four-game winning streak.
Daniel Schlereth(notes) (2-0) pitched 3 1-3 shutout innings and Jose Valverde(notes) worked the ninth for his 26th save.
Brad Bergesen(notes) (8-12) allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings.
White Sox 6, Indians 5=
CHICAGO (AP) - Paul Konerko(notes) had two hits in what could be his final game with the White Sox, manager Ozzie Guillen got his 600th win and Chicago closed out the season by beating Cleveland.
Alexei Ramirez(notes) homered in the first inning off Justin Germano(notes) (0-3) and capped a three-run second with an RBI double. Juan Pierre(notes) had three hits and drove in three runs, and Edwin Jackson(notes) (4-2) got his first win in more than a month.
Chris Sale(notes) worked two innings for his fourth save, despite giving up a two-run homer to Drew Sutton(notes).
The White Sox ended the season on a 9-2 run and wound up with 88 wins while finishing second in the AL Central. Konerko concluded one of his best seasons with 39 homers, 111 RBIs and a .312 batting average.
For the Indians, it was a fitting end after they won just 69 games in their first season under manager Manny Acta.
Athletics 4, Mariners 3=
SEATTLE (AP) - Kurt Suzuki(notes) and Kevin Kouzmanoff(notes) hit long solo home runs, and Chris Carter added the go-ahead RBI single as Oakland beat Seattle to complete a season-ending four-game sweep.
The Athletics finished 81-81 for their first non-losing season since winning the AL West with 93 wins in 2006. Dallas Braden(notes) (11-14) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.
The Mariners pulled even in the fifth on Ichiro Suzuki’s(notes) two-run double, but Carter came through in the sixth with a bases-loaded single off Anthony Varvaro(notes) (0-1).
Craig Breslow(notes) got four outs for his fifth save.
KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) —With the AL East championship already in hand, the Tampa Bay Rays outlasted the Kansas City Royals 3-2 in 12 innings Sunday to head into the playoffs on a winning note.
Manager Joe Maddon’s team learned it had clinched the division title and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs in the ninth inning when New York lost at Boston, and the Rays briefly exchanged high-fives in the dugout.
The Yankees and Tampa Bay began the day tied at 95-66, with both teams already assured of postseason spots. To win the division, New York needed to finish ahead of the Rays, who held the tiebreaker after winning the season series 10-8.
Tampa Bay will start the playoffs at home Wednesday against AL West champion Texas. The Yankees are the wild card and open Wednesday at AL Central champion Minnesota.
Carlos Pena(notes) hit a tying, two-run double in the ninth for the Rays off All-Star closer Joakim Soria(notes), his first blown save since May 6 and the first runs he had allowed in 24 innings.
Pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli(notes) singled with one out in the 12th against rookie Dusty Hughes(notes) (1-3) and stole second. Baldelli scored when Kelly Shoppach(notes) hit a grounder through the legs of third baseman Wilson Betemit(notes), who was charged with an error.
When closer Rafael Soriano(notes) finished off the Royals for his AL-leading 45th save in 48 chances, the Rays streamed onto the field to celebrate.
Jeff Niemann(notes) (12-8) struck out all three batters he faced in the 11th.
Red Sox 8, Yankees 4=
BOSTON (AP) - New York fell short of a second straight AL East title and completed a rare late-season fade with a loss to Boston.
The Yankees were 66-37 at the start of play on Aug. 1 but went just 29-30 the rest of the way. It was only the third time the Yankees led through games of Labor Day and failed to finish first, according to STATS LLC. The others were in 1906 and 1944.
The Yankees are going to the postseason for the 49th time - the fourth as a wild-card team. It’s their 15th playoff appearance in 16 years.
Jed Lowrie(notes) homered twice, J.D. Drew(notes) also connected and Boston had two double steals in the sixth inning.
John Lackey(notes) (14-11) struck out 10 in 7 2-3 innings for the Red Sox, who will miss the playoffs for the second time in eight years. They dropped from second place at 95-67 last season to third place at 89-73.
Dustin Moseley(notes) (4-4) gave up four runs and five hits in five innings for the Yankees.
Blue Jays 2, Twins 1=
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Edwin Encarnacion(notes) and Adam Lind(notes) added two more home runs to Toronto’s major league-leading total, lifting the Blue Jays over playoff-bound Minnesota in manager Cito Gaston’s last game.
Toronto went deep 257 times this season, matching the 1996 Baltimore Orioles for the third-most in history. The 1997 Seattle Mariners have the record, with 264 homers.
Gaston finished 211-201 in his second stint with the Blue Jays, who had eight wins in their last 10 games to reach 85-77.
Encarnacion hit 21 homers this season, seven against the Twins and five in this four-game series. The Blue Jays went deep 10 times this weekend at Target Field, so far one of the hardest ballparks to hit one out of.
Nick Blackburn(notes) (10-12), expected to be the starter if Minnesota’s first-round series lasts four games, tossed seven innings of three-hit ball, rebounding from a rough start last week.
Marc Rzepczynski(notes) (4-4) allowed only an unearned run in seven innings. Shawn Camp(notes) got his second save.
Angels 6, Rangers 2=
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Peter Bourjos(notes) hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and Los Angeles beat Texas in their regular-season finale.
The Angels (80-82) still had their first losing record since 2003 after winning the division five of the previous six seasons. The Rangers (90-72) are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
Texas slugger Josh Hamilton(notes) went 1 for 4 and finished with a .359 batting average, the highest in the majors.
Dan Haren(notes) (5-4) allowed two runs over six innings for the Angels and finished 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA his last eight starts. Hideki Matsui(notes) had a two-run homer.
Dustin Nippert(notes) (4-5) took the loss.
Tigers 4, Orioles 2=
BALTIMORE (AP) - Brandon Inge(notes) homered, Johnny Damon(notes) singled home the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning and Detroit beat Baltimore to end a six-game skid and avoid a losing season.
The Tigers finished 81-81, the second time in five seasons under manager Jim Leyland that they failed to have a winning record.
Nick Markakis(notes) had three hits and an RBI for the Orioles, who for the seventh time this season failed to build upon a four-game winning streak.
Daniel Schlereth(notes) (2-0) pitched 3 1-3 shutout innings and Jose Valverde(notes) worked the ninth for his 26th save.
Brad Bergesen(notes) (8-12) allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings.
White Sox 6, Indians 5=
CHICAGO (AP) - Paul Konerko(notes) had two hits in what could be his final game with the White Sox, manager Ozzie Guillen got his 600th win and Chicago closed out the season by beating Cleveland.
Alexei Ramirez(notes) homered in the first inning off Justin Germano(notes) (0-3) and capped a three-run second with an RBI double. Juan Pierre(notes) had three hits and drove in three runs, and Edwin Jackson(notes) (4-2) got his first win in more than a month.
Chris Sale(notes) worked two innings for his fourth save, despite giving up a two-run homer to Drew Sutton(notes).
The White Sox ended the season on a 9-2 run and wound up with 88 wins while finishing second in the AL Central. Konerko concluded one of his best seasons with 39 homers, 111 RBIs and a .312 batting average.
For the Indians, it was a fitting end after they won just 69 games in their first season under manager Manny Acta.
Athletics 4, Mariners 3=
SEATTLE (AP) - Kurt Suzuki(notes) and Kevin Kouzmanoff(notes) hit long solo home runs, and Chris Carter added the go-ahead RBI single as Oakland beat Seattle to complete a season-ending four-game sweep.
The Athletics finished 81-81 for their first non-losing season since winning the AL West with 93 wins in 2006. Dallas Braden(notes) (11-14) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.
The Mariners pulled even in the fifth on Ichiro Suzuki’s(notes) two-run double, but Carter came through in the sixth with a bases-loaded single off Anthony Varvaro(notes) (0-1).
Craig Breslow(notes) got four outs for his fifth save.
