American League roundup

[September 29, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- With a departed teammate in their thoughts and celebrations, the Los Angeles Angels ended the AL West race with one emphatic win -- followed by one cathartic party.

Ervin Santana pitched a seven-hitter for his fourth career shutout, and Kendry Morales' early two-run homer propelled the Angels to an 11-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night, clinching Los Angeles' fifth division title in six seasons.

With fewer wins and more scars than last season's 100-victory club, the Angels are back in the playoffs for the sixth time in eight years. Outfielder Torii Hunter believes everything the Angels have endured in the past year, particularly pitcher Nick Adenhart's tragic death, only made them stronger for this October.

"We overcame a lot of obstacles, a lot more than anybody expected," Hunter said. "I definitely feel we haven't played our best yet, and this year is different. But if you want to put your money on Boston, go ahead, do it. We believe in ourselves."

Los Angeles (92-64) will open at home in the best-of-five first round next week -- most likely against Boston, a familiar nemesis. The Red Sox, who have won all four of the clubs' playoff series, need one win or a Texas loss to earn the AL wild card.

After spending the past two months desperately fending off challenges from second-place Texas, the Angels refused to let the Rangers hang around the AL West race for even one more day. Texas arrived at Angel Stadium needing a four-game sweep to stay in contention for the division title, but that suspense lasted about as long as the first inning.

Kendry Morales hit a two-run homer, and Vladimir Guerrero started the rally with an RBI double off Rangers rookie Tommy Hunter (7-9), who stumbled to his shortest start of the season.

Maicer Izturis had three hits and two RBIs for the Angels, while Erick Aybar and Guerrero also drove in two runs -- yet Santana (8-8) scarcely needed the help in his first victory in seven starts, allowing just one runner to reach third base. In the postgame mob on the field, Santana's teammates slapped his shoulders and rubbed his head.

About 10 minutes into their clubhouse celebration, the players grabbed Adenhart's No. 34 jersey and gave it a joyous group dousing in champagne and beer. The Angels have taken Adenhart's jersey on every road trip and kept his locker intact in memory of the 22-year-old who died in a car accident hours after his promising season debut in April.

"We remembered Nick before we started," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We've played the whole year with heavy hearts. But it was never about us, and it isn't about us. It's all about supporting Nick's family in any small way, and we're going to bring Nick's memory forward."

The Angels later posed for a group photo in front of the tribute to Adenhart on Angel Stadium's center field wall.

Michael Young had two hits in his return from a hamstring injury for the Rangers, on the verge of elimination from the pennant race after impressively staying in contention all summer despite several major injuries. Texas (85-71) trails Boston (91-65), which lost to Toronto, by six games with six to play.

"We didn't get it done, and that's not a good feeling," Young said. "The Angels had a great year and overcame a tremendous amount of adversity, and they deserve a lot of credit. But from our side, it's not a good feeling. We've got to get better. It's as simple as that."

Blue Jays 11, Red Sox 5

At Boston, Josh Beckett was scratched from his scheduled start and the Blue Jays scored seven runs off substitute Michael Bowden in a game that was called in the seventh inning because of rain.

It was the fourth straight loss for Boston, which could have clinched the wild card with a victory coupled with the Rangers' 11-0 loss to the Angels. Boston is six games ahead in the wild card with seven to play.

Yankees 8, Royals 2

At New York, Robinson Cano capped a five-run seventh inning with a grand slam to lead a makeshift Yankees lineup in win No. 101.

One day after the Yankees secured their first AL East title since 2006, Ramiro Pena hit his first major league home run and Shelley Duncan had a tiebreaking single in the sixth while New York rested most of its regulars.

Cano's second career slam was his 25th homer this season and helped set a franchise record for most players with at least 25 in a season. He joined Mark Teixeira (38), Alex Rodriguez (28), Hideki Matsui (28) and Nick Swisher (27).

White Sox 6, Indians 1

At Cleveland, Gordon Beckham drove in three runs and John Danks threw his first career complete game to win for the first time in more than a month.

Danks (13-10) allowed three hits and one run, striking out seven. Shin-Soo Choo hit his 19th homer leading off the seventh to break up the left-hander's bid for his first career shutout.

Rays 7, Orioles 6

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Pat Burrell hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and pinch-hitter Willy Aybar had one of four Tampa Bay homers to extend Baltimore's losing streak to 11 games.

Gabe Kapler, Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria also homered for the Rays, who are 8-5 since an 11-game skid. Tampa Bay has hit 193 homers this season, breaking the team record of 190 set in 2006.

[Associated Press; By GREG BEACHAM]

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