Yankees Clinch Playoff Spot

Crush Devil Rays 12-4 and eliminate Tigers

By Lev Weinstein, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 27, 2007 3:53 AM CDT

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Yankees Clinch Playoff Spot — New York Yankees manager Joe Torre gets doused by Hideki Matsui, of Japan, left, after the Yankees clinched a playoff spot by beating the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during a baseball game Wednesday night Sept. 26, 2007 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Associated Press)

The Yankees yesterday clinched a playoff berth for the 13th straight season, with a 12-4 battering of the Devil Rays. With the win, the 15th in their last 20 games, New York has eliminated defending AL champs Detroit from the playoffs. They will likely face off against the Indians in the ALDS.

"We've come from a long ways this year, a lot of adversity a lot of injuries," said Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez following the win, adding "This team has a lot to be proud of." The Yanks finished May eight games below .500. Since then, they have won 70 of 108. George Steinbrenner, for once, was described as "elated." (More New York Yankees stories.)

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