Yankees clinch AL East title

NEW YORK — The resilient Yankees powered their way to the club’s first AL East title since 2012, routing the Angels 9-1 on Thursday night behind three RBIs each from old mainstay Brett Gardner and newcomer DJ LeMahieu.

A day after wasting a chance to clinch, the homer-happy Yankees went ahead when LeMahieu hit a three-run drive in the second inning and breezed to their 100th win.

Gardner, among just two holdovers from their last World Series championship team in 2009, added a solo shot in the fourth and then hit a two-run double in the sixth. Cameron Maybin and Clint Frazier homered for good measure in the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman struck out Albert Pujols to end it as fans’ cellphones flashed to record to moment.

Players lined up for handshakes and hugs, more exuberantly than usual, but there was no wild celebration.

Despite putting 30 players on the injured list this season, the Yankees (10054) wrapped up first place with eight games to spare and made Aaron Boone the first manager to win 100 games in each of his first two major league seasons.

It wasn’t all good news for the Yankees on Thursday. Pitcher Domingo German was placed on administrative l eave under MLB’s domestic violence policy, casting doubt over whether the team’s top winner this season will be available for the playoffs.

Details on what led to the action weren’t disclosed.

German, 27, is 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 24 starts and three relief appearances.