Major League Baseball

Yanks beat Red Sox to win AL East

Published Sep. 28, 2009 12:19 a.m. ET

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Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees wrapped up the AL East title and home-field advantage throughout the postseason with a neat bow, beating the Boston Red Sox 4-2 Sunday for their 100th win of the year.

Hideki Matsui's go-ahead single in the sixth inning energized the damp fans and put them on notice that a party was coming. The first real celebration at the new Yankee Stadium began with a most familiar scene - Mariano Rivera on the mound, closing out another clinching victory.

"This one is special. We haven't been there," Rivera said, pausing to smile in a champagne-soaked clubhouse, "since last year."

Catcher Jose Molina leaped up from behind the plate even before Rivera had fielded Jacoby Ellsbury's soft comebacker for the final out. The Yankees swarmed Rivera on the first-base side of the mound while players in the bullpen streamed in.

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