Athletics Clinch AL West Title
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Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images(OAKLAND, Calif.) — The Oakland Athletics clinched their second-straight AL West title, then proceeded to celebrate by powering past the Minnesota Twins 11-7 Sunday.
The Athletics were in the third inning of their game Sunday when they clinched the division once Texas lost to Kansas City.
The Athletics received home runs from Daric Barton, Jed Lowrie and Coco Crisp — who finished the game with four RBIs — en route to victory.
The A’s punched their ticket to the postseason last year on game 162 of the season and lost to the Tigers in Game 5 of the ALDS. This year they clinch on game 156 and are hoping for a better postseason result.
“I think last year we surprised a lot of people,” third baseman Josh Donaldson said. “I think this year we’re an all-around better team and we feel like we belong.”
Sonny Gray (4-3) pitched five innings, allowing four runs to get the win.
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