YANKEES 101

The New York Yankees clinched the AL East title and best record in the American League with a decisive 14-2 win over the Boston Red Sox in the final game of the regular season.

They are not nicknamed the Bronx Bombers for nothing, led by second baseman Robinson Cano's two jacks, this team set the all time Yankees franchise home run record with 245.

Boston jumped out to the 1-0 lead when Cody Ross singled home Jacoby Ellsbury. New York went ahead on Curtis Granderson's first home run of the night a three run blast making it 3-1.

Cano's first home run was a two run bomb in the third and knocked Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka out of the game. Cano hit his second two run homer of the game in the fifth and double home another pair in the sixth. Cano had a perfect night at the plate going 4-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored, six RBIs and a walk.The Red Sox scored their second run on a single by Jose Iglesias to make it 9-2.

In the seventh the Yankees continued their assault on Boston pitching when Granderson hit a solo shot for his second homer of the game. New York added more four more runs on a double by Ichiro Suzuki, a single by Nick Swisher and sacrifice fly by Mark Teixeira.

The Yankees pounded out 15 hits and scored 14 runs against six Boston relievers. Besides hitting two home runs a piece Cano and Granderson were a combined 6-for-8 with 10 RBIs and five runs scored.

Hiroki Kuroda was outstanding going seven innings and allowing only two runs on seven hits striking out four and walking two. Cody Eppley, Clay Rapada and Freddy Garcia, who struck out the side in the ninth, pitched in relief of Kuroda.

This win was an exclamation point on a season that was turbulent and riddled with injuries to pitchers and starting position players. New York weathered the storm of the ups and downs of a 162 game season to win their 18th AL East crown.

Game Notes

Derek Jeter finishes the year with 216 hits which is the second most in a season Jeter has ever hit in his career. Derek had 219 in the 1999 season.

Robinson Cano ends the season with nine straight multi hit games and hitting .476 over his last 10 games.

The Yankees have home field advantage through the playoffs and will meet Sunday the winner of the wild card game between the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles.

New York has made the playoffs for the 17th time in the last 18 seasons and overall their 51st post season appearance in franchise history.

Also…

•Be sure to "like" Yankees 101 on Facebook and to follow Yankees 101 on Twitter

•Text "oneteam" to 20222 to donate $10 to the One Team for the Lights charity initiative. 

 

Tags: Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Hiroki Kuroda, MLB, New York, New York Yankees, Robinson Cano

Related Videos

No related posts.