10B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MLB
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
Yankees win, earn playoff spot
Players celebrate 100th victory of season, first division title since 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York Yankees' Melky Cabrera hits a solo home run off Boston Red Sox's Paul Byrd in the third inning of their baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday.
BEN WALKER Associated Press
NEW YORK — 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 season.
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.
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.
tion as the Yankees began walking off the field, with captain Derek Jeter at the front a nd several teammates pulling on gray championship T-shirts.
Nick Swisher wasted no time putting on an AL East Champions hat. The crowd responded with a standing ova-
The Yankees won their first division title since 2006 and, after missing the playoffs last year, let loose with wild champagne sprays in the locker room. Several players wore goggles to protect against the sting.
Plastic sheets covered the high-tech clubhouse, outfitted with computer screens at every stall and flat-screen televisions overhead. Asked before the game how his team might celebrate, manager Joe Girardi said: "I think our guys will be respectful of their home."
All alone in first place since July 21, the team with the best record in the majors can now spend the final week resting its players and setting up the playoff rotation.
Still to be determined is who New York will meet in the best-of-five opening round, and when. They'll most likely face the AL Central winner, either Detroit or Minnesota.
Ryan Waqqoner/KANSAN
Three grand kicks
Steven Jablonowski, Topea sophomore, kicks a field goal Saturday at Memorial Stadium as part of a halftime contest during the KU vs. SMU game. Jablonowski won $3500 by making all three field goals he attempted.
Mickelson rallies past Tiger, earns meaningful victory
ATLANTA — Phil Mickelson had the smaller check and felt like the biggest winner. Tiger Woods was congratulated after he finished second in the Tour Championship.
Sunday was the ninth time that golf's two biggest stars finished 1-2 in a tournament.
Mickelson capped off a tumultuous summer at home with a spectacular rally at East Lake, closing with a 5-under 60 to go
Never have they shared the spotlight, each going home with a trophy that was meaningful in its own way.
from four shots behind to a three-shot victory, his first since his wife and mother were diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring.
"I like the way today went," Mickelson said. "I was two back of him, he beat him by three. He gets the $10 million check, and I get $1 million. I've got no problem with that. I just love holding this finally."
Woods made two late birdies, not enough to put any heat on Mickelson, but to secure the FedEx Cup and its $10 million bonus. It finished a season in which he won six times and was no worse than second in nine of his 17 tournaments.
Associated Press
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