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Yankees win AL East with sweep of double-header vs. Rays

YANKEES 4
RAYS 2
GAME 1


YANKEES 4

RAYS 2
GAME 2

The New York Yankees are heading back to October for the 16th time in the last 17 years. The Bronx Bombers got it done once again as they swept away the Tampa Bay Rays in a double-header at Yankee Stadium while the slumping Boston Red Sox fell to the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 in Boston, helping the Yankees capture this title.

In game one, the Yankees clinched no worse than a playoff spot in the 2011 postseason when the came back to beat Tampa Bay 4-2. The Rays held a 2-1 lead going into the eighth inning, until Eduardo Nunez cracked a solo shot to left to tie the game against James Shields who was clearly running out of gas.

After a single by Brett Gardner and a walk to Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano nailed a double to center field to drive in both runners giving the Yankees the lead.

Then in came Mariano Rivera in the ninth, and the greatest closer of all time notched down save 603 with a crisp ninth inning to clinch the playoff spot.

The Yankees magic number was down to two heading into the night cap. They needed the combination of a win and a Red Sox loss to capture the division for the third straight season.

The Yankees jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, thanks to a solo shot by Cano in the second inning; however, CC Sabathia couldn't hold onto the lead.

Sabathia worked 7.1 solid innings but gave up two homers to Kelly Shoppach and Sean Rodriguez to tie the game at two heading into the eighth.

In the eighth, the Yankees bats woke up. Nick Swisher doubled to lead off the inning before he was removed for pinch hitter Greg Golson. Both Mark Teixeria and Cano walked setting up a bases loaded situation for Jorge Posada.

Posada, who has been in Joe Giradri's dog house all season beginning with losing his catching job to Russell Martin in spring training, came through with the biggest at bat of his season. Posada ripped a single to right center driving in Golson and Teixiera to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead.

Rafael Soriano shut down the Rays in the bottom of the ninth, as the Yankees celebrated their 17th division title.

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