The Boston Red Sox have won the American League East for the third time in a row. Alex Cora’s team completed the division title with an 11-6 win over the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
The Red Sox lost the first two games of the series at Yankee Stadium, but a late awakening of the offense in the third game has now also decided the East. The Red Sox scored three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings.
After New York shot the game after trailing 2-4 by a Giancarlo Stanton Grand Slam in the fourth inning, Boston equalized in the fifth inning. Finally, MVP candidate Mookie Betts finished with a 3-run Homun against Yankees-Closer Aroldis Chapman.
“Winning a division isn’t easy,” said Boston outfielder J.D. Martinez after the triumph. “It is difficult. It all started in Spring Training with the attitude we had already shown there. The goal here is to win. We’re not finished, of course. But it is a first step of which we are proud.”
After the division title, Boston’s only concern now is to secure home field advantage through the AL playoffs. The only competitors are the Houston Astros, but the Magic Number of the Sox is currently 2, so this goal is within reach.
Next, the Red Sox will receive the winner of the Wildcard Game – probably either the Yankees or the Oakland Athletics – at the ALDS, which starts on October 5.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.