The American League East race — or whatever was left of it — is officially over.
The Yankees' offense wasn't explosive, but it had enough firepower to beat the Red Sox 4-2 on Sunday.
The Red Sox jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a bases-loaded line drive off the bat of Mike Lowell that struck Andy Pettitte in the leg. Pettitte stayed in the game, allowing just two runs in his six innings of work.
The win guarantees the Yankees the division title for the first time since 2006. But the Red Sox' magic number for clinching the AL wild card is down to two after the Rangers gave up a big lead Sunday and lost to the Rays 7-6.
Yankees 4, Red Sox 2
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
Sept. 27, 2009
Headliner: It's only fitting that Mark Teixeira, the man who appeared destined to join the Red Sox in the offseason, was the difference maker in the season series finale, allowing the Yankees to even the series at nine games apiece.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the first baseman reached base thanks to a miscue in center field by Jacoby Ellsbury. He came around to score the tying run on an Alex Rodriguez RBI single. Teixeira then stepped up in the eighth inning of a 3-2 ballgame and got just enough of a Daniel Bard offering to muscle it out of the park in right for his 38th home run of the year.
The insurance run proved to be important in the top of the ninth inning, when the Red Sox got two runners into scoring position. Mariano Rivera recorded his 44th save, but he had an added level of comfort thanks to the two-run cushion.
Dirt Dog: On paper, the matchup of Paul Byrd against Andy Pettitte didn't look good for the Red Sox.
But the veteran righty held his own for the Sox, lasting 5 2/3 innings and giving up three runs. He would have made it out of the sixth with just one run allowed had Ellsbury snagged the ball that Teixeira hit.
He wasn't spectacular, and it might not have been enough to earn a spot on the playoff roster, but Byrd did his best to keep the Red Sox in the game.
Better Luck Next Time: This undesirable honor goes to the Red Sox as a team. After jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the season series, the Sox looked poised to win the series by a convincing margin for the first time since 1999.
Instead, they went on to drop nine of the final 10 matchups of the season, the final three coming this weekend. The Red Sox didn't necessarily need a win in the Bronx, but just one would have gone a long way in not only helping them get to the playoffs but making a statement should the two rivals meet up in the ALCS. Now they'll have to start from scratch.
On Deck: With the magic number sitting at two, the Red Sox still have work to do to qualify for the playoffs. They'll host the Blue Jays for three games, starting on Monday, before closing out the season with a four-game set against the Indians.
The Blue Jays are riding a hot streak, winners of five of their last six games heading into Sunday. In the series opener, Josh Beckett (16-6, 3.78 ERA) will get the start, opposed by Scott Richmond (7-10, 5.32 ERA).
