Red Sox coast into playoffs with 12-7 victory
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The associated press - Published: October 5, 2009
BOSTON — J.D. Drew homered twice, and Jed Lowrie hit his first career grand slam on Sunday and the Boston Red Sox headed into the playoffs with a 12-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Angels 5, Athletics 3
OAKLAND, Calif. — Mike Napoli homered, Joe Saunders pitched five strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels closed out an impressive regular season with a 5-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics Sunday.
Mariners 4, Rangers 3
SEATTLE — Felix Hernandez finished tied for the major league lead with 19 wins and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 Sunday in a season finale.
Twins 13, Royals 4
MINNEAPOLIS — Jason Kubel got those noted white towels waving with a pair of three-run homers and Minnesota beat Kansas City 13-4 Sunday, putting the Twins into a one-game playoff with the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central title.
Yankees 10, Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez homered twice and drove in an AL-record seven runs in a 10-run sixth to help the playoff-bound New York Yankees finish the regular season with a 10-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
Orioles 5, Blue Jays 4, 11 innings
BALTIMORE — Michael Aubrey scored the winning run on Brandon League's second throwing error in the 11th inning Sunday, giving the Baltimore Orioles a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and a three-game sweep.
Tigers 5, White Sox 3
DETROIT — Justin Verlander and Ryan Raburn gave the Detroit Tigers at least one more game.
Raburn hit two homers and Magglio Ordonez had a solo shot to lead slumping Detroit over the Chicago White Sox 5-3 Sunday, assuring the Tigers of at least a tiebreaker for the AL Central title.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Dodgers 5, Rockies 3
LOS ANGELES — Vicente Padilla struck out 10 in five innings, and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers finished the regular season with a 5-3 victory over the wild-card Colorado Rockies Sunday.
Giants 4, Padres 3, 10 innings
SAN DIEGO — Randy Johnson made what could be the last appearance of his brilliant, 22-year big league career, pitching one adventuresome inning of relief in the San Francisco Giants' 4-3, 10-inning win over the San Diego Padres Sunday.
Brewers 9, Cardinals 7, 10 innings
ST. LOUIS — Prince Fielder homered twice and Jody Gerut's two-out infield hit drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the Milwaukee Brewers sent the St. Louis Cardinals scuffling to the postseason with a 9-7 victory on Sunday.
Nationals 2, Braves 1, 15 innings
ATLANTA — Alberto Gonzalez drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the 15th inning and the Washington Nationals closed the season with a seven-game winning streak.
Phillies 7, Marlins 6, 10 innings
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's big sluggers had the day off to rest for the playoffs. The Phillies didn't miss them in their final postseason tuneup. Paul Hoover hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning and the defending World Series champions prepared for their title defense with a 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins on Sunday.
Diamondbacks 5, Cubs 2
CHICAGO — Doug Davis gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a win over the Chicago Cubs in the finale of disappointing seasons for both teams.
Davis pitched eight strong innings and Chris Young homered Sunday. leading the Diamondbacks to a 5-2 victory.
Reds 6, Pirates 0
CINCINNATI — Brandon Phillips — the last man standing in Cincinnati's season of unending injuries — drove in three runs, and Homer Bailey shut out Pittsburgh for six innings on Sunday, setting up a 6-0 victory as the NL Central's two more forlorn franchises ended the season together.
Mets 4, Astros 0
NEW YORK — Nelson Figueroa pitched a four-hitter for his first major league complete game, Angel Pagan keyed the offense and the New York Mets wrapped up a miserable season Sunday by completing a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 4-0 victory.
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