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Game 155: AL EAST CHAMPIONS

With tonight’s 4-2 victory and Baltimore’s defeat of Boston, the Yankees have clinched the American League East for the 17th time in franchise history.

 

CC Sabathia had a 2-0 lead but lost it thanks to home runs from Kelly Shoppach and Sean Rodriguez. CC Sabathia went 7.1 innings and threw 127 pitches but ended up not factoring into the decision. Sabathia tried long and hard to earn his 20th win of the season but could not get the outs in the 8th inning when he walked the bases loaded. David Robertson pulled off his all-to-common “Houdini” act and threw just one pitch to induce a double play to keep the game tied at 2. After all the innings and pitches that CC Sabathia has been a part of, I’m sure both he and Joe Girardi wanted to get him the 20th win but tonight was about winning and bringing in David Robertson instantly appeared to be the perfect move with the one pitch, double play.

 

The Yankees got on the board early with Robinson Cano’s 27th home run of the season. The Yankees MVP candidate, Curtis Granderson scored his MLB-leading 133rd run in the 4th to give them the early 2-0 lead. Then after the game was tied at 2, Jorge Posada completed what every fan and player could have wanted for a veteran such as Posada, who has gone through as much as he has, as he drove in the game-winning pinch-hit single in the 8th to setup the clinching win.

 

The Yankees can now prepare for the postseason as they try to determine who pitches after CC Sabathia and who makes the postseason roster. A noticeable question mark would regard whether Jorge Posada would make the postseason roster and tonight’s game may have put him in a step in the right direction.

 

Regardless of what decisions are made, the New York Yankees are American League East Champions for the 17th time in franchise history as the quest for #28 gets that much clearer.

 

Ryan Nakada

@adakannayr