MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate winning National League West title
Last Updated: 25/09/14 11:09am
The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their second consecutive National League West title with a 9-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers also clinched home-field advantage for the NL Division Series with the comprehensive win, which was inspired by pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who struck out 11 Giants batters and tripled in the first Dodgers' run.
Yasiel Puig's home run inspired a four-run sixth inning as the Dodgers ran riot in the latter stages of the game.
The Detroit Tigers joined the Dodgers in the post season and did it in style with a 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Pitcher Justin Verlander delivered eight innings of one-run ball, while Ian Kinsler doubled in the seventh inning to send Rajai Davis across home plate, before following suit moments later.
The Baltimore Orioles ended the New York Yankees' play-off hopes with a 9-5 victory at Yankee Stadium.
A six-run fourth inning sent the Orioles on their way to victory, with Nelson Cruz, Steve Clevenger, Kelly Johnson, Ryan Flaherty, Nick Markakis and David Lough crossing home plate.
AL West champions the Los Angeles Angels withstood a four-run fightback from the Oakland Athletics to claim a 5-4 victory.
Dismantled
The Athletics' wildcard charge did not suffer, however, as the Kansas City Royals slipped to a 6-4 defeat to the Cleveland Indians.
The Milwaukee Brewers kept their post-season chances alive by beating the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 as pitcher Kyle Lohse reduced the Reds to just two hits.
Garin Cecchini hit his first career homer and Xander Bogaerts snared three RBIs as the Boston Red Sox dismantled the Tampa Bay Rays 11-3.
Elsewhere, the Texas Rangers were 5-1 winners over the Houston Astros, the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 and the Chicago Cubs triumphed 3-1 against the St Louis Cardinals.
The Minnesota Twins edged past the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1, while the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins by the same scoreline.
The San Diego Padres were 4-3 winners against the Colorado Rockies and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0.
Meanwhile, the match between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets was postponed due to heavy rain.
