Betts OK; Red Sox close in on division title

Mookie Betts doesn’t seem to be badly hurt, so the Red Sox can focus on clinching the AL East at Yankee Stadium for the second time in three seasons.

Betts gave Boston a scare when he injured his left side making two throws to home plate during a 4-3 win over the New York Mets on Sunday that cut Boston’s magic number to two for a third straight division title.

“It kind of flared back up on the second throw. It’ll be fine. I’ll be ready to play Tuesday,” Betts said. “I was just coming out for precautionary (reasons) just to make sure it didn’t get worse. Everything checked out fine and I’ll be ready to go.”

Boston has an 11½-game lead over the second-place Yankees and would clinch with one win during a three-game series that opens Tuesday afternoon.

“We’ve been looking at the standings and a lot of people have been talking about it for a month-and-a-half,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Now, it’s right there.”

Betts, hitting .337 with 29 homers and 72 RBIs, caught a fly ball from Jeff McNeil in the sixth inning and threw home as Austin Jackson held at third. Wilmer Flores followed with another drive to right, and Betts unsuccessfully threw home as Jackson scored on the sacrifice fly.

Judge’s bat to return?

Yankees manager Aaron Boone says All-Star slugger Aaron Judge could return to New York’s lineup this week during a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

Boone said Sunday that Judge is “getting real close” to returning from a broken right wrist. Judge has been cleared to play the outfield and run the bases, and he played two innings in right Friday night. He’s still working his way back at the plate, though.