NEW YORK — First, the good news for the Yankees: They finally clinched a playoff spot last night, securing one of the American League wild card berths.
Now, the really good news: They won’t have to face the Red Sox again.
The Yankees had their fill of the spoiler Sox this week, dropping three games in a row before avoiding a rare four-game sweep with a 4-1 victory in a water-logged series finale in the Bronx. The win also was the 10,000th in Yankees history.
It didn’t come easy, though. The Yankees scratched out two runs over six innings against lefty Rich Hill, the 35-year-old Milton native who has been the most improbable feel-good story of the Sox’ late-season revival, then tacked on two runs against the bullpen.