Yankees clinch AL East

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What a day. After becoming the first American League team to clinch a playoff berth with a 4-2 win in the first game of today’s doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees clinched the division with a dramatic win by the same score in the nightcap. The Yankees needed a Boston loss to clinch, and they got it when Baltimore came back to beat the Red Sox, 6-4. CC Sabathia had a strong outing, allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings, but a solo homer from Sean Rodriguez tied the score at 2-2 in the seventh. Sabathia stayed in to pitch the eighth, eventually loading the bases on a walk to Evan Longoria with one out. Mr. Houdini himself, Dave Robertson, came in and got out of the jam on one pitch, inducing a double play ball from Ben Zobrist.

In the bottom of the eighth, after three pitching changes from the Rays, Jorge Posada was brought in to pinch-hit for Jesus Montero with the bases loaded and two outs. Posada came up clutch with a two-run single, ensuring yet another AL East title for the Bombers.