Indians grab wild card, Rays-Rangers face a duel

The Cleveland Indians claimed an American League wild card berth, while the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers extended the season for one more game by finishing in a tie for the league’s second wild card spot.

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Jason Kipnis and Nick Swisher of the Cleveland Indians celebrate the 5-1 win against the Minnesota Twins. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:25am, 30 Sep 2013Updated: 1:42am, 1 Oct 2013

The Cleveland Indians claimed an American League wild card berth, while the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers extended the season for one more game by finishing in a tie for the league’s second wild-card spot.

Cleveland capped a 10-game, season-ending winning streak with a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins that gave them a 92-70 record and ensured they would host the AL wild-card play-off game on Wednesday.

“Think I’m kind of speechless right now,” said Indians first baseman Nick Swisher, who got Cleveland started with a two-run homer in the first inning.

“From 94 losses to 92 wins,” he added about the team’s turnaround from a 68-94 mark in 2012. “I’m so proud to be part of this.”

Indians third base coach Brad Mills is showered with champagne after they claimed an American League wild-card berth. Photo: AP

Their opponent was still undecided as wins by the Rays and Rangers kept them deadlocked with 91-71 records and set up a do-or-die tiebreaker in Texas on Monday (US time).

Tampa Bay scored six runs in the first inning and then held on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6, while the Rangers snapped a 2-2 tie in the sixth on their way to beating the Los Angeles Angels 6-2.

Texas, who rebounded from a 5-15 September swoon by finishing with seven straight wins, were expected to start rookie left-hander Martin Perez against Tampa Bay’s 2012 Cy Young winner David Price.