Springer hits three home runs as Astros clinch AL West title

George Springer, Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros put a check mark in the September box.

Springer hit a career-high three homers, Verlander posted his MLB-leading 20th win and the Astros secured the division crown in grand fashion, routing the Angels 13-5.

A crowd at Minute Maid Park that was cheering from Verlander’s first pitch got even louder as Springer homered three times in the first four innings. The Astros kept breaking away and improved to 102-54, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees for the best record in the majors.

CARDINALS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH >> Paul Goldschmidt hit a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning and the Cardinals clinched a playoff spot by rallying past the Cubs 3-2 for their first four-game sweep at Wrigley Field in almost a century.

NL Central-leading St. Louis qualified for October for the first time since it won the division in 2015. It also stayed three games ahead of Milwaukee. TWINS’ CRUZ HITS 400TH CAREER HR >> Minnesota’s Nelson Cruz hit his 400th career home run as the Twins powered past Kansas City 12-8. Cruz became the 57th player with 400 homers. His fourth-inning solo shot was also his 40th homer of the season. Cruz joined Harmon Killebrew and Brian Dozier as the only Twins to hit 40 homers in a season.

ALSO >> Eric Thames hit two home runs and Milwaukee took a combined perfect game into the seventh inning to beat Pittsburgh 4-3 and match Washington atop the NL wild-card standings . ... Cubs star Kris Bryant left Sunday’s game after he sprained his right ankle while trying to beat out a double play . ... The Indians expect third baseman José Ramírez to return to their lineup Tuesday after missing a month with a broken right hand.