Indians, Angels wrap up AL division titles

Expensive champagne soaked the home clubhouse at Jacobs Field for the first time since 2001 on Sunday as the Cleveland Indians, overlooked as a contender in baseball's toughest division, clinched the American League Central with a 6-2 win over the visiting Oakland Athletics.

The Indians, whose home opener was postponed by a freakish snowstorm and whose path to a title was unlike any in team history, will again play meaningful games in October.

"Somewhere among the snow and the craziness of the schedule and the injuries, this team became a family," pitcher Paul Byrd said amid the delirium and flying liquid. "Everybody chipped in. I've never been on a team where everybody has been included in the victories as much as we have."

Angels 7, Mariners 4: Shades of 2002?

With John Lackey starting, Francisco Rodriguez closing and fans waving those rally monkeys, Los Angeles clinched its third AL West title in four years by beating visiting Seattle.

After losing two in a row to the Mariners, manager Mike Scioscia's team clinched in its final home game of the regular season.

Lackey (18-9) again came up big in a big game.

"I take a little pride in that sort of thing," he said after holding the Mariners to 2 runs through 7 innings. "I enjoy getting the opportunity in big games and I want to make the most of it."

National League

Rockies 7, Padres 3: Milton Bradley and San Diego have company in the NL wild-card race, and it's not just the Philadelphia Phillies anymore.

The Padres melted down in a loss to visiting Colorado on Sunday, losing two outfielders to injuries -- including Bradley in a bizarre sequence after he was ejected -- and allowing the Rockies to close within 1½ games of the wild-card lead following an impressive three-game sweep.