Once again, teams are desperate to close out the season on top of their respective divisions. The New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves had their magic numbers shrink after Monday's action in baseball.
The Yankees powered through the Minnesota Twins 6-3 as Andy Pettitte won his fifth game this season. The Yankees, of course, did via the homer. Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson, Eric Chavez and Raul Ibanez all went deep on Monday night.
With the win, the Yankees' magic number is now 8 to with the division. They received help from the Toronto Blue Jays as they split a double header with the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees now have a 1.5 game lead in the American League East.
In a division rivalry for the top spot in the AL West, the Rangers were able to come back against the Oakland Athletics. They took a five-game lead in their division while simultaneously dropping their magic number down to 5.
The Rangers remained focused as they went into the seventh inning down 4-2. Adrian Beltre proved the difference for the Rangers as he hit a two-run home run to tie the game at four in the bottom of the seventh and then came up with the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth.
The Athletics are still in the race for the AL West's top spot. They have a total of six games left against the Rangers before the season wraps up.
Hard to believe that you can say this, but the Braves received helped from the Washington Nationals as they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 12-2 on Monday. The Nationals add .5 to their 4.5 game lead over the Braves, but they reduced the Braves' magic number down to only 1 game. A Braves' win tonight against the Marlins or another loss by the Brewers will get the Braves into the playoffs.
Other Magic Numbers around the league:
Chicago White Sox= 9
Washington Nationals= 5
St. Louis Cardinals (Wild Card) = 6
Baltimore Orioles (Wild Card)= 6.5
Oakland A's= 8
