Yanks Crush Sox 14-2, Clinch AL East

It took all 162 games but the New York Yankees (95-67) were finally able to clinch the top spot in the AL East by crushing the Boston Red Sox (69-93) by the score of 14-2 on Wednesday night. The Yankees also clinched the best record in the American League securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Yankees came out with the big bats belting four home runs in the ball game and got solid pitching behind Hiroki Kuroda.

The Yankees scored their first seven runs in classic Yankee fashion -- the long ball. In the third inning trailing 1-0 Curtis Granderson drilled a towering three run blast down the right field line off of Daisuke Matsuzaka putting the Yankees up 3-1.

In the third it was Robinson Cano who belted a two run blast off of Matsuzaka making the score 5-1.  Matsuzaka only lasted 2 1/3 gave up five runs on six hits and struck out two in what was probably his final start as a member of the Red Sox.

Robinson Cano did it again in the fifth with another two run homer this time off of reliever Clayton Mortensen making the score 7-1. The two home runs put Cano at 33 for the season.  Cano wasn’t done, in the sixth inning Cano added two more Yankee runs with a two run single putting the Yanks up 9-1.

In the seventh inning the Yankees went on a tear batting around and scoring five runs in the inning, starting with a Curtis Granderson solo home run, his 43^rd of the season.  Ichiro, Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira all had RBIs in the inning. All runs were charged to Boston reliever Chris Carpenter.

Hiroki Kuroda went seven strong innings gave up two runs on seven hits and struck out four. The win puts him at 16-11 on the season.

The four home runs gave the Yankees 245 total on the season a new franchise record beating the 244 that the club hit in 2009.

The Yankees will start the ALDS on Sunday against the winner of the Baltimore Orioles-Texas Rangers wild card play in game. That game will be played on Friday night.