Red Sox clinch AL East, top Astros 6- 3
however, said in statement this week that he supports both political parties. Gilbert’s Quicken Loansmortgage lending company donated $ 750,000 to the president’s inauguration party.
“Our interests are in the policies at the federal level, and not the politics surrounding the elections,” he said. “We have often supported both political parties in the same election so that we have the ability to impact positive change, regardless of who occupies the offices.
“Our focus with any officeholder or politician is about the communication of the still substantial needs of our former rustbelt cities that are now finally beginning the road to recovery and growth that other parts of America have been experiencing for a long period of time.” BOSTON » David Price came on in relief of Drew Pomeranz and squelched a dangerous seventh- inning rally to help the Boston Red Sox beat theHouston Astros 6- 3 on Saturday, clinching the first back- to- back AL East titles in franchise history.
The Red Sox avoided the possibility of a one- game tiebreaker with the rival Yankees, and instead left New York with a wild- card spot. Boston also set up an immediate rematch with the Astros in the playoffs.
Boston leads New York by two games with one to play. The lead had been five games when the Red Sox returned to Fenway Park for a season- ending homestand; a loss Saturday — coupled with the Yankees’ 2- 1 win over Toronto — would have forced Boston to use Chris Sale on the final day of the season to avoid a tiebreaker on Monday.
Now theRed Sox can rest their ace for the best- of- five Division Series against the AL West champion Astros, which will start in Houston on Thursday. The AL East has not had needed a onegame playoff since Bucky Dent’s homer cleared the Green Monster to help the Yankees eliminate Boston in 1978.
The Yankees will host Minnesota in the wildcard game Tuesday, with thewinner playing at Cleveland in the ALDS.
Mookie Betts homered and scored three times, and Pomeranz ( 17- 6) had a two- hit shutout through six innings. With a heavy rain beginning to fall in the top of the seventh, the Astros scored two runs before Price struck out George Springer with the bases loaded to end the threat.
Pomeranz allowed one run on three hits and two walks, striking out three.
With one hit in four atbats, Jose Altuve’s major league- leading batting average fell one point, to .347.
Brian McCann homered off Red Sox closer CraigKimbrel in the ninth to make it 6- 3. Cameron Maybin then doubled before Kimbrel struck out Tony Kemp and Springer to end it.
Lance McCullers ( 7- 4), who was pitching for a spot in the postseason rotation, allowed five runs on six hits and two walks, striking out six in 4 1/ 3 innings. FINAL PAIRINGS The Astros’ loss meant Cleveland, with 101 wins entering Saturday and the tiebreaker over Houston, clinched the best record in the AL.
LUCKY BOUNCE With two in and two on, nobody out and the tying run at the plate in theHouston seventh, McCann hit a chopper toward first that Mitch Moreland couldn’t handle. It bounced off his glove and high into the air, but second baseman Brock Holt leaped to catch it, then threw to Price covering first base for the 3- 4- 1 out.
Price struck out Maybin andwalked pinch- hitter Tyler White to load the bases before fanning Springer looking on three pitches to end the threat. TRAINER’S ROOM Astros: RF Josh Reddick ( sore back) remained in Houston.
Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia was scratched on Saturday morning because of concerns over how the wet conditions might affect his sore left knee.