First-Place Yankees Break Free While Red Sox Fade Even More in AL Pennant Race

The stretch run has truly begun.

After eight days of being tied atop the AL East, the New York Yankees finally took a one-game lead over the Rays with their win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday.

The Rays and Red Sox lost ground. While comeback wins for the Twins and White Sox kept their margin at four games with comeback wins over AL Central rivals.

The Rangers, pretty much locked in as AL West champs, did surprising lose a Cliff Lee start against the Royals.

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