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Yankees sting Rays to clinch AL East
Source: Agencies |
September 23, 2011, Friday
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THE New York Yankees clinched the American League East to enter Major League Baseball's postseason for the 16th time in the last 17 years with a doubleheader sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
Having pulled off a 4-2 comeback victory in the early game, the Yankees got a go-ahead two-run single from Jorge Posada in the eighth inning to win by the same score in the nightcap.
C.C. Sabathia pitched 7 1/3 innings and allowed two runs in a no-decision and New York sealed its division with Derek Jeter resting on the bench, having taken the night off.
"This is a special group," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "Our season didn't start off real good the way we played against (the Red Sox). This is a group that knows how to bounce back and when things don't go well they don't panic."
The Yankees (95-60) were in position to clinch after the fading Boston Red Sox lost to Baltimore 4-6 on Wednesday.
In New York's opener, they trailed 2-1 in the eighth inning but rallied with a leadoff home run by Eduardo Nunez off Rays starter and loser James Shields (15-12).
A two-run double from Robinson Cano against lefty reliever J.P. Howell followed to grab the lead.
Mariano Rivera, pitching for the first time since he became MLB's all-time saves leader with his 602nd on Monday, added to this total by setting the Rays down in order in the ninth to give reliever Luis Ayala (2-2) the win and notch his 44th save of the season.
There was no celebration after Game 1 for the 27-time World Series champions, but they let loose after clinching the division. Yankees' Hector Noesi started in place of scheduled starter Phil Hughes.
Having pulled off a 4-2 comeback victory in the early game, the Yankees got a go-ahead two-run single from Jorge Posada in the eighth inning to win by the same score in the nightcap.
C.C. Sabathia pitched 7 1/3 innings and allowed two runs in a no-decision and New York sealed its division with Derek Jeter resting on the bench, having taken the night off.
"This is a special group," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "Our season didn't start off real good the way we played against (the Red Sox). This is a group that knows how to bounce back and when things don't go well they don't panic."
The Yankees (95-60) were in position to clinch after the fading Boston Red Sox lost to Baltimore 4-6 on Wednesday.
In New York's opener, they trailed 2-1 in the eighth inning but rallied with a leadoff home run by Eduardo Nunez off Rays starter and loser James Shields (15-12).
A two-run double from Robinson Cano against lefty reliever J.P. Howell followed to grab the lead.
Mariano Rivera, pitching for the first time since he became MLB's all-time saves leader with his 602nd on Monday, added to this total by setting the Rays down in order in the ninth to give reliever Luis Ayala (2-2) the win and notch his 44th save of the season.
There was no celebration after Game 1 for the 27-time World Series champions, but they let loose after clinching the division. Yankees' Hector Noesi started in place of scheduled starter Phil Hughes.
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