Red Sox Clinch AL East With Win Over Blue Jays
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Red Sox are AL East champions.
After clinching a postseason berth on Thursday night, the Red Sox secured their spot as division winners by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3. Jon Lester allowed one earned run over seven innings and struck out eight.
It's the Red Sox' first AL East win since 2007, and it's just the second time they've won the division since the mid-'90s.
The 2013 season has been one of remarkable turnaround for the Red Sox, who went 69-93 last season in a Bobby Valentine-filled debacle that only got worse as the season wore on. However, a late-season trade with the Dodgers, an offseason change in manager and an influx of new players known as much for their role in the clubhouse as on the field all factored in to the Red Sox reaching this mark.
The Red Sox clinched a postseason berth on Thursday night after defeating the Orioles, but there was not much of a celebration. Players said they had bigger goals in mind, and winning the division was certainly the first one.
