NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, WASHINGTON
PHOTO: AFP
The Philadelphia Phillies are the National League East champions for the fourth consecutive year, sealing the honor with an 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday.
Fittingly, the clinching victory came from a Roy Halladay (21-10) shutout — his fourth of the season and ninth complete game, both of which are highs in the majors this season.
He will head to the playoffs for the first time in his 13th major league season, having played his entire career with Toronto before switching teams for this season.
PHOTO: AFP
Halladay gave up only two singles, did not walk a single batter and struck out six. He faced the minimum 21 batters through seven innings, as a third-inning hit was negated when the next batter grounded into a double play.
The Phillies went ahead 1-0 on the first of Jayston Werth’s three hits in the game.
It was his 26th homer, a drive to left field off John Lannan (8-8) in the second inning. He finished with four RBIs.
DODGERS 3, ROCKIES 1
In Denver, Colorado, Ted Lilly dominated for eight innings to steer Los Angeles past Colorado.
He gave up one homer, but otherwise bewildered the Rockies. Of Lilly’s (9-12) eight strikeouts, five were called.
The reeling Rockies fell five games behind idle San Francisco in the NL West with just six games remaining.
Colorado has lost seven of eight since pulling within a game of the divisional lead on Sept. 18.
Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez (19-8) has one more start, at St Louis next weekend, to try to become the franchise’s first 20-game winner. He went 15-1 in the first half of the season, but has found victories hard to come by since.
In other NL play it was:
• Cardinals 6, Pirates 4
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, TORONTO
Vernon Wells hit a three-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays hung on for a 7-5 win over New York that delayed the Yankees clinching a playoff spot in the American League.
New York has lost five of six and remains a half-game behind Tampa Bay in the AL East division race with five games to play.
John Buck added a solo shot for Toronto, which assured itself of at least a .500 finish.
The Blue Jays lead the major leagues with 243 home runs this season, one shy of the team record set in 2000.
Toronto starter Marc Rzepczynski (3-4) allowed four hits in five innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time this season.
He matched a career high with nine strikeouts.
Yankees starter A.J. Burnett (10-15) allowed seven runs in two-and-one-third innings, his second shortest start of the year. He is 0-3 with a 9.61 ERA in four starts against his former team this season.
RED SOX 6, WHITE SOX 1
In Chicago, Clay Buchholz outpitched Mark Buehrle to steer Boston past Chicago.
A Red Sox loss would have locked up playoff spots for the Rays and Yankees. Instead, Boston took an early lead, pulled away and stayed mathematically in the wild-card race while the two AL East rivals lost.
Buchholz (17-7) pitched eight innings, striking out five and walking only one to give Boston the opener of this four-game series.
Buehrle (12-13) gave up 11 hits in six innings and lost his third straight decision.
In other AL play it was:
• Royals 10, Twins 8
• Orioles 4, Rays 0
• Mariners 7, Rangers 5
• Indians 6, Tigers 3
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