alex_rodriguezNY Yankees 4, Boston 2: The Yankees captured their first AL East crown since 2006. Picking up the win: Andy Pettitte. Picking up the save: Mariano Rivera. Champagne flowed in the locker room following the sweep and the Yankees will have homefield advantage throughout the postseason. The next two weeks will be consumed by debates over who starts what games (after Sabathia) in the postseason. For those with an eye on the ALCS, the Yankees have won nine of the last 10 against the Red Sox.

mike_MarshallPittsburgh 6, Los Angeles 5: Jon Broxton blew his first save since Aug. 15 – which was the last time he gave up a run – and the Pirates rallied for four in the bottom of the ninth. (Our fantasy team was bitter about this, especially since Frank Francisco also got lit up.) The Pirates are sitting on 96 losses, and hoping to avoid reaching the century mark for the first time since 2001. The Dodgers remain the top seed in the NL.

jeff_musselmanChicago White Sox 8, Detroit 4: A day after this explosion by Ozzie Guillen, the Other Chicago team beat the slumping Tigers. Luckily for Detroit, Minnesota got shut down by Zack Greinke. The Twins visit the Tigers beginning tonight for four games. Detroit leads the AL Central by two games. We have no preference if the Yankees face the Twins or Tigers in the first round. The Yankees are considerably better than both teams. New York has owned Minnesota over the years, and the Tigers have better pitching than the TWins, so it would probably be a good thing if the Joe Mauer’s crew snuck in.

mark langstonToronto 5, Seattle 4: Blue Jays took three of four at home against the Mariners in a quirky series. Three of the games ended 5-4. Russell Branyan was expected back for the M’s this week … but no, they decided to shut him down for the season. This is depressing news to anyone playing in a fantasy baseball championship.

larry_sheetsAtlanta 6, Washington 3: The Braves scored three in the 10th to complete the sweep and hand the pathetic Nationals their 103rd loss of the season. No matter – with the Redskins losing to the Lions and Jim Zorn coming under fire, nobody would notice of the Nationals lost every game the rest of the way. The Braves, winners of six in a row, remain barely alive for a Wild Card berth.