They didn’t beat the Blue Jays last night, but the Yankees still clinched the American League East title last night and will be entering the post-season for the 12th consecutive year.
TORONTO (AP) — Derek Jeter poured champagne over Joe Torre’s head. Almost half the team doused Mariano Rivera with beer. Bernie Williams flashed a grateful smile.
It didn’t matter that the New York Yankees lost Wednesday night. They still clinched their ninth consecutive AL East title — and celebrated like first-timers.
“I’ve done it before but it never gets old,” Torre said.
New York clinched another division championship when the second-place Boston Red Sox lost 8-2 to the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees began the day needing one win or a Red Sox loss to wrap up the AL East — and their 12th straight playoff berth. New York was beaten 3-2 in Toronto, but Boston’s game went final about 30 minutes later, setting off a wild celebration in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
Not too bad for a season that included the loss of heavy hitters like Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield.
