The playoff-bound New York Yankees wrapped up the American League East title with their 100th victory of the season, a 4-2 triumph over the Red Sox on Sunday.
The Yankees (100-56) surged ahead on designated hitter Hideki Matsui’s two-run single in the sixth inning to win their fifth consecutive game and sweep the weekend series.
“When you contribute to the actual win of the game anytime, it’s a great feeling, but to clinch the division like this, it couldn’t be better,” Matsui, speaking through an interpreter, told reporters.
New York will have home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs because they have baseball’s best record.
“It’s been a while since we’ve won one here and I think everybody is hungry,” said Yankees starter and winning pitcher Andy Pettitte (14-7), who allowed seven hits and two runs over six innings. “We’re all trying to push each other and grind through. We want to bring another championship to New York. There’s no better place to win than here.”
Boston (91-64) dropped their third successive game, but are still likely to make the playoffs as the American League wild-card entry.
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