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Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Red Sox clinch AL East crown — BOSTON (AP) — Jonathan Papelbon danced barefoot in the infield. Daisuke Matsuzaka smiled and bowed to a group surrounding him. And the sound system played "Don't Stop Believin'." — Ecstatic fans joined in to savor Boston's first division title in 12 years …
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Rivera blows save, Yanks lose in 10; Red Sox clinch East — BALTIMORE - For the first time since 1997, the Yankees will enter the postseason as the wild card team, as their streak of nine consecutive AL East titles was snapped last night with an ugly loss to the Orioles.
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New York Post
O'Ryan Johnson / Boston Herald:Sox fans hang around Fenway to savor clinch
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Boston Globe
Jorge Arangure Jr / ESPN:
Wright's challenging words might be too late … NEW YORK — Between the signs of resignation and the half-hearted attempts at optimism, there was one yet slight sign the New York Mets might have some life left in their floundering season. As a despondent Mets clubhouse emptied …
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New York Post
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Lisa Olson / NY Daily News:
Mets' plight reaches new, creative lows — When all the hair balls have been coughed up, when all the gags and chokes at Shea have been silenced, the Mets will be remembered for one thing. — They went down creatively, ingeniously. — It's not easy to blow a season in such astonishing fashion.
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New York Post
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Mets fall to Marlins, out of first place; could miss playoffs — On the outside looking in and out of first place for the first time since May 16, the Mets and their epic collapse have reached the reddest possible alert. — As Carlos Beltran aptly put it, "It's hard to believe, but it's happening."
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New York Post
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:Mets Fall Into Tie With Phillies
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Bronx Banter, Baseball Musings, Babes Love Baseball, The700Level.com, Knuckle Curve and NY Daily News
Daniel Malloy / Boston Globe:
Buchholz won't pitch this season — After consulting with pitching coach John Farrell and general manager Theo Epstein, Terry Francona announced this afternoon that Clay Buchholz, the rookie sensation who pitched a no-hitter Sept. 1, will not pitch for the remainder of the season and will not be on the postseason roster.
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
No postseason for Buchholz — Red Sox rookie hurler shut down due to shoulder fatigue — BOSTON — As it turns out, top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz will not be a secret weapon for the club come October. Citing some weakness and fatigue that developed in Buchholz's right shoulder during September …
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rookie Clement delivers walk-off win — First hit of the night a game-winning home run against Texas — SEATTLE — Mariners manager John McLaren talked before the game about the thunder in rookie Jeff Clement's bat. — For the second time in three days, Clement delivered a stunning clap …
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David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Clement's blast in 9th chases Rangers — Mariners rookie pulls out late heroics for second time — For the record, Jeff Clement's game-winning homer Friday night was a two-run shot, not a three-run shot. — The extra Mariner running around the bases at the conclusion of the 6-4 victory …
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Associated Press
Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Hamels pitches Phillies into 1st place — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jimmy Rollins was reminded of his bold preseason prediction countless times, especially when it seemed the Philadelphia Phillies were going nowhere. — Many snickered. Others criticized. Few outside the locker room believed.
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Federal Baseball
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Chris Duncan / Associated Press:
Cecil Cooper to return as Astros manager — HOUSTON (AP) — With Bud Selig's blessing, the Houston Astros picked Cecil Cooper as their full-time manager. — The 57-year-old Cooper received a guaranteed contract through the 2009 season on Friday, a month after he was chosen as interim manager to replace the fired Phil Garner.
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The Crawfish Boxes
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Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Paul Lo Duca hurts knee, vows to play — Paul Lo Duca insists he will try to play in the Mets' must-win game today despite leaving last night's 7-4 loss to Florida in the eighth inning with a bruised left knee. — Lo Duca was struck by a foul ball in the seventh and temporarily remained in the game …
Discussion:
New York Post
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Kazmir to management: Get us some help — TORONTO - Scott Kazmir, like others, hopes better days are ahead for the Devil Rays, who with a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Friday guaranteed they'll again finish with the majors' worst record. — But the young ace said Friday they need …
Associated Press:
List of broadcast crews for TBS' new baseball playoff coverage — The announcing teams for TBS' coverage of baseball's four division series: — CHIP CARAY and TONY GWYNN: Caray is the son of longtime Braves broadcaster Skip Caray and grandson of Hall of Famer Harry Caray.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Lackey gets Angels back on track — He shuts out A's for seven innings, picks up his 19th victory and probably will win the league ERA title. — OAKLAND — The Angels now know who they're playing and where they're playing next week. They will open the American League division series Wednesday …
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Associated Press
Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times:
Young, old pull together for a win — Dodgers avoid generational conflict for a change as Wells, 44, and the kids combine to beat Giants, 8-3. — Youth was finally served at Dodger Stadium on Friday. But not without a great deal of help from the third-oldest player in baseball.
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Associated Press
