A-Rod Talks Win Over Boston

Sept. 25, 2009 -- Even before Mariano Rivera fielded the final ball, the party started for the New York Yankees.

Catcher Jose Molina leaped up from behind the plate the moment Jacoby Ellsbury tapped softly back to the mound, then the celebration really got going.

Absent from the playoffs last year, the Yankees let loose Sunday after clinching the AL East title and home-field advantage throughout the postseason with a 4-2 win over Boston.

"Everything is clicking right now," winning pitcher Andy Pettitte said. "When you miss out, it makes you a little more hungry to get back there."

Soaked to the skin with champagne, Mark Teixeira stood on the giant "NY" logo emblazoned on the soggy clubhouse carpet and shouted like crazy.

"Tastes good!" he hollered.

Favored to win the World Series since opening day, Derek Jeter, Rivera and a roomful of All-Star multimillionaires acted like playoff rookies after posting their major league-leading 100th victory.

They chanted, jumped around and absolutely drenched their high-tech clubhouse — plastic sheets covered the computer screens in every locker and flat-screen TVs overhead. Teixeira and many others wore swimming goggles to stave off the sting — of victory, that is.

"I think the way last year ended left a bad taste in all our mouths," manager Joe Girardi said. "There's a lot of excitement. This has been a fun group, and they enjoy it."

Hideki Matsui's go-ahead single in the sixth inning energized the fans and put them on notice that a party was coming. The first real bash at the new Yankee Stadium began with a real familiar scene — Rivera on the mound, closing out another clincher.

Nick Swisher wasted no time putting on an AL East Champions hat. The crowd gave a standing ovation as the Yankees began walking off the field, with Jeter at the front and several teammates pulling on gray championship T-shirts.

"Winning a championship is what I came here for," pitcher CC Sabathia said. "It definitely feels good — first one in pinstripes, first one in the new stadium, first celebration."

The three-game sweep extended the Yankees' winning streak to five. They finished 9-9 against Boston this year — startling since New York lost the first eight matchups.

"We're going to see them again down the road, we have a feeling," slugger Alex Rodriguez said.

Despite the defeat, the Red Sox remain in firm control of the wild-card race. Their magic number is two to beat out Texas for the final playoff spot.

Boston manager Terry Francona was hardly surprised the Yankees bounced back after last year's playoff miss.

"I think I actually made the comment that they'd get aggravated and spend a billion dollars. I was half-right. They have a good team and that's an unbelievable regular season," he said.