CHICAGO, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The New York Yankees, Minnesota, and Oakland all clinched American League division titles Tuesday night, leaving just one postseason spot in the junior circuit up for grabs.
With the major league baseball season heading into its final weekend, the AL playoff picture nearly was finalized in a four-hour span.
The Yankees won their sixth straight AL East Division title with a 7-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.
"It's not easy, especially to do it six years in a row," said shortstop Derek Jeter. "We played hard and overcame some injuries. You start working in camp in February to win the division and it is nice to do it."
The Yankees win, combined with Kansas City's loss to Detroit, gave Minnesota a chance to clinch its second straight Central Division title. The Twins came through with a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
The combination of Oakland's 4-3 win over Texas and Anaheim's 2-1 win over Seattle gave the A's their third West Division title in four years.
