AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox win East despite loss in 9th

YANKEES 5, RED SOX 3

NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira hit a game-winning grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning, and the New York Yankees staved off playoff elimination at the last possible moment with a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Boston clinched the American League East title nearly 30 minutes before Teixeira connected, thanks to Toronto's 3-2 loss against Baltimore. But a five-run comeback by New York in the ninth prevented its longtime rival from celebrating on the Yankee Stadium field.

The victory by the Orioles put the Yankees on the brink of wild-card elimination following a surprising charge late this season. New York had only one infield hit and trailed 3-0 heading into the ninth, with Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (2-5) on his way in from the bullpen.

Kimbrel, however, gave up a leadoff single to Brett Gardner and issued three consecutive walks, the last forcing in a run.

Red Sox Manager John Farrell turned to Joe Kelly, who struck out Starlin Castro and retired Didi Gregorius on a foul popup. With the Yankees down to their last out, Teixeira, planning to retire after this season, launched a 99-mph fastball on an 0-1 count into the New York bullpen in right-center.

Yankees relievers raised their arms in excitement and Teixeira puffed his cheeks and spread his arms wide as he rounded first base. The 36-year-old slugger, in his 14th big league season, tossed his helmet as happy New York players poured out of the dugout to swarm him at home plate.

"I'm going to take away a lot of memories. This will be one of the best," Teixeira said.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox walked back to their bench and quietly cleared out of the dugout, an awkward way to mark their second division crown in four years. But once they returned to their clubhouse, they let loose and celebrated with the traditional bubbly.

New York (82-76) guaranteed its 24th consecutive winning season, the second-longest streak behind the Yankees' run of 39 consecutive from 1926-64.

Teixeira hit the Yankees' first game-ending slam since Alex Rodriguez on April 7, 2007.

James Pazos (1-0) was the winner, and the Yankees remained four games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card with four to play.

Though the final score in Toronto was posted on the out-of-town scoreboard for all to see, the Red Sox hardly seemed to notice as players draped their arms over the dugout railing and rooted for Kimbrel in the ninth.

Red Sox executives, however, jumped out of their front-row seats next to the Boston dugout and rejoiced when the Blue Jays' game ended, giving Boston its eighth AL East title.

Mookie Betts snapped a scoreless tie when he chopped a two-run double over third base in the eighth inning. David Ortiz scored moments later on Gary Sanchez's passed ball.

Boston, which had already secured at least a wild-card spot in the playoffs, will open its postseason schedule Oct. 6 seeking a second World Series crown since 2013. The team's opponent has not been determined yet.

MARINERS 12, ASTROS 4 Robinson Cano hit a three-run home run in the first inning, and Seattle beat host Houston to keep pressure on the other AL wild-card contenders.

ORIOLES 3, BLUE JAYS 2 Hyun Soo Kim hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the ninth inning off Roberto Osuna, and visiting Baltimore beat Toronto to move within one game of the AL wild card-leading Blue Jays.

TIGERS 6, INDIANS 3 (5) Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the fifth inning, moments before the game was halted for good, and host Detroit came away with a rain-shortened victory over Cleveland, keeping pace with Baltimore in the AL wild-card race.

ROYALS 5, TWINS 2 Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon keyed an eighth-inning rally and Kansas City beat visiting Minnesota, but the Royals were still knocked out of playoff contention.

WHITE SOX 1, RAYS 0 Todd Frazier hit his 40th home run, Miguel Gonzalez waited out a rain delay to throw 8 1/3 dominant innings and host Chicago edged Tampa Bay on a soggy night.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DIAMONDBACKS 3, NATIONALS 0 (5) Shelby Miller threw five shutout innings and Jean Segura had three hits to reach 200 for the season as Arizona beat host Washington in a rain-shortened game.

PIRATES 8, CUBS 4 John Jaso hit for the cycle and drove in five runs to lead Pittsburgh to a victory over visiting Chicago. Jaso tripled off Chicago reliever Pedro Strop in the seventh inning to clinch the first cycle at PNC Park and the first for the Pirates since 2004.

METS 5, MARLINS 2 Jay Bruce hit his 32nd home run, James Loney also homered and New York helped its NL wild-card chances by beating host Miami. The Marlins' loss in their home finale eliminated them from playoff contention.

BRAVES 12, PHILLIES 2 Matt Kemp hit a two-run home run, Daniel Castro had three RBI and Dansby Swanson also drove in two runs, leading surging Atlanta to a rout of visiting Philadelphia.

REDS 2, CARDINALS 1 Adam Duvall's two-run single was all Cincinnati needed as it beat host St. Louis. The Reds' third victory in their last four games dealt a blow to the Cardinals' playoff hopes.

INTERLEAGUE

RANGERS 8, BREWERS 5 Carlos Gomez hit a towering three-run home run in the eighth inning and AL-leading Texas beat visiting Milwaukee for its MLB-best 49th come-from-behind victory.

Sports on 09/29/2016

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