RED SOX CLINCH AL EAST, WILL FACE ASTROS AGAIN
BOSTON» David Price came on in relief of Drew Pomeranz and squelched a seventhinning rally to help the Red Sox beat the Astros 6-3 on Saturday, clinching the first back-to-back AL East titles in franchise history.
The Red Sox set up an immediate rematch with the Astros in the playoffs.
The best-of-five Division Series against the AL West champion Astros will start in Houston on Thursday.
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.
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
The Yankees wound up with an AL wildcard spot, beating the Blue Jays 2-1 on Aaron Judge’s 52nd home run shortly before Boston clinched the division. The Yankees will host Minnesota in a wildcard game Tuesday. The wild-card winner will face Cleveland in a best-of-five AL Division Series. Replacement starter CC Sabathia (14-5) won his fifth straight decision. With the Yankees still in contention for the division title to begin the day, manager Joe Girardi opted for Sabathia to pitch on his regular four days’ rest in place of the originally scheduled Jaime Garcia. … Matt Cain pitched five shutout innings, then raised his arms and waved his cap, fighting off tears amid a standing ovation as he walked off the mound for final time in the Giants’ 3-2 loss to the Padres. Cain’s decorated 13-year career came to an end and the home crowd at AT&T Park saluted the right-hander, a cornerstone of the team’s championship era who pitched the only perfect game in franchise history. … Jon Lester struck out seven over five innings, Kyle Schwarber hit his 30th home run and the Cubs pounded the Reds 9-0 for their 15th win in 18 games. Lester (13-8) allowed four hits and walked none. … Chris Archer won for the first time since July 24 and Brad Miller hit a three-run homer to lead the Rays over the Orioles 4-3. … A day after saying he wouldn’t use Bruce Harper, manager Dusty Baker started the 2015 NL MVP in the Nationals’ 4-1 loss to the Pirates. Harper returned this week from a hyperextended left knee that kept him out more than six weeks. Harper posted his second consecutive 0-for-4 day at the plate. … Carson Fulmer pitched five innings in a matchup against Corey Kluber, Kevan Smith drove in two runs and the White Sox beat the Indians 2-1. … Giancarlo Stanton remained at 59 home runs after failing to hit one in the Marlins 10-2 win over the Braves. … Andrew Romine became the fifth player in baseball history to play all nine positions in one game, helping the Tigers beat the Twins 3-2. Romine, a 31-year-old utilityman, played catcher for the first time in his career and got one out on the mound. He was the first player to accomplish the feat since Shane Halter for Detroit against Minnesota on Oct. 1, 2000. … Jorge Bonifacio hit a threerun homer with two outs in the sixth inning to help the Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Diamondbacks. … Joey Gallo hit his 40th and 41st home runs, Andrew Cashner pitched six solid innings and the Rangers beat the Athletics 8-4. … Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 11th inning to lift the Mets toa 7-4 victory over the
Phillies.