The Red Sox came through for the Rays, besting the Yankees in the final two games of a three-game series and giving Tampa Bay the AL East title in the process.
The Rays and Yankees entered the day with identical 95-66 records, but the Rays held the tiebreaker and thus clinched home-field advantage with the Yankees’ loss. The Rays went on to beat the Royals 3-2 in 11 innings, giving them an AL-high 96 victories.
Boston beat the Yankees 8-4 behind John Lackey’s second 10-strikeout game of the season and homers from J.D. Drew and Jed Lowrie. Lowrie went deep twice, giving him a surprising nine homers in 172 at-bats.
The Yankees’ loss settled the playoff picture in the AL. The Bombers will travel to Minnesota as the league’s wild card entry. The Rays will play host to the Rangers.
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- RichardInBigD - Oct 3, 2010 at 7:31 PM
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The Rangers playing someone besides the Evil Empire in the playoffs? How do I act? What do I think? Should I actually have hope that my ALCS tickets may be good for something? And who do I hope to play in the ALCS? Except for the “NY” on their unis, this actually looks like a team the Rangers can beat in the second round, but with the 1-12 Rangers record against the Yanks, would I rather plaay the better team in the second trip? I’m so confused! Maybe I should get hats for the Rangers bats, and sacrifice a chicken, and make sure the good cigars and rum are set aside for Jobu!
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- RichardInBigD - Oct 3, 2010 at 7:33 PM
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Who cares? This piece’s headline begins with my two favorite words – “Yankees Loss”!
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- Ari Collins - Oct 3, 2010 at 7:49 PM
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At least my Sox did some good. Almost makes up for Carlos Santana’s injury, which I still feel strangely bad about in a vicarious kinda way.
Hopefully the Twins can get some revenge on the Yankees for recent first round eliminations.
