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Sox win East, but Yanks’ slam is talk of the crown
- Updated: September 29, 2016
NEW YORK — Mark Teixeira was the one mobbed by his teammates at home plate, hitting a walk-off grand slam off Joe Kelly in the ninth inning to lift the Yankees to a 5-3 victory, but the Red Sox still celebrated their clinching of the American League East title on Wednesday evening at Yankee Stadium.
• Red Sox win 3rd AL East title in 10 seasons
“So crazy,” said Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz. “I wanted to celebrate on that field so bad, but it is what it is. We end up being the first-place team in the American League [East] and we’re going to celebrate anyway.”
Teixeira cleared the bases with a drive into the right-field bullpen following an ineffective relief appearance by Craig Kimbrel, keeping the Red Sox from holding an on-field celebration of their first division championship since 2013. Boston was crowned AL East champs by virtue of the Blue Jays’ 3-2 loss to the Orioles at Toronto.
• Up next? Boston awaits ALDS opponent
“That was fun. That’s as good as it gets right there,” Teixeira said. “I guess if you hit one to win the World Series, it might be just as much fun, but for the kind of season we’ve had — we’ve been fighting all year. To come back from three runs down against one of the best closers in baseball, it shows a lot about our team.”
It was the first time a team has clinched the division on the same day as a walk-off loss since the 2000 White Sox on Sept. 24, 2000, against the Twins.
Kimbrel was assigned to protect a three-run lead after the Yankees had been limited to one hit over the first eight innings, but he threw 28 pitches without recording an out. Brian McCann worked a bases-loaded walk off Kimbrel before Kelly was tagged with a blown save.
“It’s pretty easy to put that one behind me after this,” said Kimbrel in a champagne-soaked clubhouse. “Like John Farrell said, ‘Don’t get one game get in the way of the pleasure of what we did this year.’ Personally, it was frustrating, but it will be easy to put it behind me.”
The Yankees clinched their 24th consecutive winning season, and though they remain on the brink of elimination, were spared having to watch the Red Sox dance on their turf. New York is four games back of the second AL Wild Card spot and is either an O’s win or Yanks loss from being officially eliminated.
“I don’t think any time teams want to see players celebrate on your home field, no matter what the situation is,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s difficult, because it means in a sense that you didn’t win your division or you didn’t win your playoff round. No matter who it is, it’s hard to watch, so it’s nice.”
• For first time since ’04, Sox party in Bronx
Boston put the bubbly on ice with Mookie Betts’ two-run, eighth-inning double off Adam Warren, awaiting its …
