AMERICAN LEAGUE N.Y. claims East crown

Bernie Williams' two-run homer enabled New York to clinch the AL East title.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Bernie Williams stood with bat in hand, savoring the scene: bottom of the ninth inning, tie score, fans chanting, teammates ready to celebrate.
And then he gave them -- and himself -- a super send-off.
Williams launched a two-run homer and the Yankees clinched their seventh straight AL East title, beating the playoff-bound Minnesota Twins 6-4 Thursday night for their 100th victory of the season.
"I've been through it so many times. I was picturing it in the on-deck circle, taking it all in, thinking it would be nice for me to end it," Williams said.
"Playing Wiffle ball with my brother back in Puerto Rico, this is how you picture it," he said.
Williams connected with one out, watching the ball sail toward left-center field and raising his right arm as he rounded first base. Captain Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez were the first players to greet him at home, and the entire team enjoyed a group hug near the plate.
"It was fitting. Bernie's been here the longest," Jeter said in the champagne-filled clubhouse. "He's been through a lot this year."
Was shelved
Williams missed much of spring training following an appendectomy. He struggled at times during the season, and even was benched late in the year for a big game against Boston.
No chance of getting him out of the lineup now.
"This time of year seems to bring out the best in him," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
Williams' homer was the Yankees' major league-leading 241st of the season, breaking the franchise record set by Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and Co. in 1961.
Hideki Matsui and John Olerud also homered for New York, which won the division by overcoming an 8-11 start that included six losses in seven games against Boston.
"The things that happened early in the year when we were roughed up by the Red Sox I think galvanized this ballclub," Torre said.
New York became just the fourth team to post three straight 100-win seasons, joining Atlanta (1997-99), Baltimore (1969-71) and the Philadelphia Athletics (1929-31).
The Yankees swept the three-game series from the AL Central champs and very possibly will face the Twins in the first round starting Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. For New York to meet the AL West winner -- Anaheim or Oakland -- Minnesota would have to sweep Cleveland in its final three games and the weekend series between the Angels and Athletics would have to wind up 2-1 instead of a sweep.
"That team over there was on a mission tonight," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You could see it. Every time they needed a run, they hit a home run. They've been struggling all year, and they win 100 games -- that's a joke. We win 90 games, and we think we're doing great."
The Yankees won this one as they did so many others, featuring the recurring themes of home runs, strong bullpen work and comebacks. The victory, the 61st in which New York overcame a deficit, relegated Boston to second place, although the Red Sox again captured the wild-card spot.
Boston became the first team in major league history to finish in second place for seven straight years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.