By Ron Kaplan, contributor

The Boston Red Sox (104-49) clinched — finally — the AL East in style, scoring three runs in each the seventh and eighth innings on Thursday to beat the host NY Yankees, 11-6. Ian Kinsler sat this one out, but in a piece from the NBCSports.com, he’s compared favorably with Mark Bellhorn and Dustin Pedroia, second basemen from the Sox’s previous World Series championships:

The Red Sox acquired Kinsler at the trade deadline to improve defensively at second base. Kinsler hasn’t made much of an impact at the plate yet in Boston, but he sure has with the glove. He’ll get the chance to have his own signature moment with the Red Sox in the postseason, just as Pedroia and Bellhorn did.

In the meantime, Kinsler was named to the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame.

The Legend of Rowdy Tellez continues to grow (see interview). His two-run homer in the second inning gave the Toronto Blue Jays (70-83) their opening runs, and his opposite-field RBI double in the ninth ignited a seven-run, come from behind victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, 9-8. Fun fact: Tellez’s first hit came in the first pitch he saw against the Rays. The home run here also came on the first pitch he saw in the game. Kevin Pillar was 1-for-3. What does the future hold for the Jays’ longest-tenured player?

Max Fried did not appear for the Atlanta Braves (85-68) in their 8-3 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies (78-74), helmed by Gabe Kapler.

No other MOT-related games. But here’s something about Ryan Braun‘s recent lack of playing time. And one on Joc Pederson and man’s best friend.

Ron Kaplan (@RonKaplanNJ) hosts Kaplan’s Korner, a blog about Jews and sports. He is the author of three books, including The Jewish Olympics: The History of the Maccabiah Games and Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War.

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