Yankees Clinch AL East, Home-Field Advantage
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Al Bello/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — On the final night of the regular season, the New York Yankees celebrated its American League East title with a 14-2 romp of the Boston Red Sox.
It was their 13th AL East title in the past 17 years. The win also secured the best record in the American League and home-field advantage up until the World Series, if they make it that far.
Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson hit two home runs each for the Yankees, who finished the 2012 regular season with a 95-67 record.
Pitcher Huroki Kuroda earned his 16th win of the season for the Yankees.
The Yankees clinched the division title when the Baltimore Orioles lost to the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the night.
The team lived up to their “Bronx Bombers” nickname by hitting a franchise-record 245 home runs this season, surpassing their record of 244 from 2009, which was the last time they won the World Series.
After struggling with injuries all season, the Yankees let a 10-game division lead slip away in the season’s final two months. The Baltimore Orioles were on their heels until the very end, finishing two games back of the Yankees with a 93-69 record. The Orioles and Yankees were tied atop the AL East 10 times in the month of September alone.
The Orioles and Texas Rangers will meet in a one game wild-card playoff Friday night to determine who will play the Yankees in the divisional round. Game One is set for Sunday, with New York traveling to either Baltimore or Arlington, Texas.
Captain Derek Jeter said, “Now the real season starts.”
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