OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland won the AL West title with another improbable rally in a season full of them, coming back from four runs down and a 13-game division deficit to stun two-time defending league champion Texas on Wednesday.
Josh Hamilton dropped a fly ball in center field for a two-run error that put the A’s (94-68) ahead 7-5 in a six-run fourth inning.
While Hamilton’s Rangers (93-69) are headed to the new one-game, wild-card playoff, the A’s get some time off before opening the division series in their first postseason appearance since 2006.
The A’s needed a sweep Texas and they delivered to win their first division crown in six years and 15th in all. They overcame a five-game deficit in the final nine days and took sole possession of the West’s top spot for the first time this year.
Yankees 14, Red Sox 2: At New York, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson each hit a pair of homers, powering New York past Boston for their 13th AL East title in 17 years.
In front of fans poised to party from the first pitch, the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the last-place Red Sox to win their second consecutive division crown. The championship was locked up by the seventh inning, when Baltimore’s 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay went final.
Rays 4, Orioles 1: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Evan Longoria homered three times and Tampa Bay beat Baltimore, ending the Orioles’ bid to force a one-game tiebreaker for the AL East title.
The loss left the Orioles as a wild-card team. They’ll play Friday at Texas, with the winner advancing to the division series.
Tigers 1, Royals 0: At Kansas City, Mo., Miguel Cabrera became the first player in 45 years to achieve the Triple Crown in the AL Central-champion Detroit’s victory over Kansas City.
Max Scherzer pitched four innings for Detroit to test his sore right shoulder ahead of the playoffs, which the Tigers will open Saturday at home against Oakland.
Blue Jays 2, Twins 1: At Toronto, Brandon Morrow struck out a season-high 11, Omar Vizquel wrapped up his 24-year career and Toronto beat Minnesota to complete a three-game sweep.
Morrow (10-7) allowed one run and three hits in eight innings, his longest outing since a complete game victory at Chicago on June 6. Toronto’s staff leader in wins, the right-hander reached double digits in victories for the third straight season.
Mariners 12, Angels 0: At Seattle, Casper Wells tied a career-high with five RBIs including a three-run homer in Seattle’s six-run seventh inning, and Seattle routed Los Angeles.
