Yankees punch playoff ticket
It was nearly 2 a.m. today before the Yankees got to officially celebrate their return to the playoffs once they wrapped up a 6-5 victory over the Angels. It's only the first step for manager Joe Girardi's team, which has a 5 1/2-game lead over the Angels in the fight for the AL's best record and a six-game edge on the Red Sox in the AL East.
No late night tonight as the Yankees and Angels play at 3:35. Then it's time to meet the Red Sox for the final time in the regular season starting Friday night in the Bronx. The magic number to clinch the division is six.
Click here for the MLB.com recap of the Yankees-Angels game with video highlights.
---Mike Harrington
