The resilient New York Yankees powered their way to the club's first American League East title since 2012 in grand fashion—pummeling the Los Angeles Angels 9-1 last night—behind three RBIs each from old mainstay Brett Gardner and newcomer DJ LeMahieu.
A day after wasting a chance to clinch first place, the homer-happy Yankees went ahead when LeMahieu hit a three-run drive in the second inning and breezed to their 100th win.
And what is even more amazing than the 100 W’s 30 different players the Yankees put on the IL this season, these bruised Bronx Bombers nevertheless wrapped up first place with eight games to spare and made Aaron Boone the first manager to win 100 games in each of his first two major league seasons.
The Yankees open the playoffs on October fourth—most likely against Minnesota, which leads the AL Central, or the wild-card winner.
Masahiro Tanaka (11-8), in line to start the opener, allowed Kole Calhoun's homer leading off the fourth. The Angels had just four hits in seven innings off Tanaka, who struck out six and walked one.
Source: ESPN
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