The Los Angeles Angels clinched the American League West division with a 4-2 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The Major League-leading Angels (88-57) became the first team in baseball to secure a post-season berth by winning their division for the fourth time in five years.
"It hasn't been easy, by any means," manager Mike Scioscia said. "This team has pulled together and done the job all year long."
Third baseman Robb Quinlan delivered a two-run single during the team's three-run fifth inning to lead the way.
"I've had at-bats in the playoffs and that might have been bigger," said Quinlan of his game-changing hit. "For a regular-season game, that was pretty special."
Starting pitcher Dustin Moseley (2-4) got the win over opposing pitcher Andy Pettitte in five innings of work, striking out six and allowing two runs.
Francisco Rodriguez recorded his league-leading 56th save of the season, one shy of the all-time record set by Bobby Thigpen in 1990.
The Yankees (77-69) have lost three of their last four as their playoff hopes continue to fade.
In other American League games, it was: Rays 4, Red Sox 2 (14 innings) White Sox 6, Blue Jays 5 Athletics 5, Tigers 2 Mariners 8, Rangers 7 Indians 7, Orioles 1 and Twins 7, Royals 1.
In the National League, it was: Dodgers 7, Padres 2 Cubs 4, Cardinals 3 Giants 4, Diamondbacks 3 Brewers 4, Reds 3 Marlins 7, Phillies 3 Mets 13, Nationals 10 Astros 7, Pirates 4 and Braves 9, Rockies 5.
In Boston, Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer in the top of the 14th, then Tampa Bay reliever Jason Hammel escaped a major jam in the bottom of the inning to beat Boston.
After playing more than five hours, the Rays increased their lead in the AL East to 2 1/2 games over the Red Sox. Boston's wild-card lead was cut to five games by Minnesota.
Tampa Bay was only 1-for-35 with runners in scoring position in this series before Pena homered.
Boston loaded the bases with no outs in the 14th against closer Troy Percival. Hammel took over with a 4-1 lead and retired three straight batters for his first save since he pitched at Class A Hudson Valley in 2002.
In Chicago, Mark Buehrle outpitched Roy Halladay and Chicago stopped Toronto's 10-game winning streak.
AJ Pierzynski drove in three runs for the White Sox, who stayed one game ahead of Minnesota in the AL Central.
The Blue Jays scored three runs in the ninth inning and fell one victory short of tying the longest winning streak in team history, set in 1987 and matched in 1998.
Toronto lost to the White Sox for the first time in seven meetings this year.
In San Diego, Manny Ramirez hit two two-run homers, giving him 524 for his career, and Los Angeles beat San Diego 7-2. It was the Dodgers' 10th win in 11 games.
The Dodgers extended their lead in the National League West to a season-high 3 1/2 games over Arizona, which lost to San Francisco 4-3.
Derek Lowe (13-11) allowed three hits and one run in 5 1-3 innings before leaving the game in the sixth after being hit on the right leg by a one-hopper by Kevin Kouzmanoff.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily September 12, 2008)