Three American League teams clinch postseason spots with wins today. The Yankees defeat the Blue Jays, 9 – 6, and the Orioles beat the Red Sox, 6 – 3, to remain tied atop the AL East. When the Rangers defeat the Angels, 8 – 7, in the second game of a doubleheader, all three teams are assured of claiming at least a wild card spot.

The Pirates are guaranteed to finish below .500 for the 20th consecutive season, extending their own record, as they lose to Cincinnati, 4 – 3. The Bucs were 16 games over .500 on August 6th, but for the second consecutive year, a late-season tumble costs them a chance at breaking the hoodoo. They are now 77-82 with three games remaining.

Prince Fielder’s two-run homer off Jared Burton in the 8th gives the Tigers a win. It’s his 30th homer of the year, making him and his father Cecil Fielder the second father-son duo to both go deep 30 times in a season for the same franchise; previously, only Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds of the Giants had done it.

After beating Boston earlier in the day, the Orioles secure a postseason berth when Texas beats the Angels in the second game of a twin bill. Baltimore, whose last playoff appearance occurred in 1997, clinches, at very least, one of the two American League wild-card spots.

En route from Baltimore to Tampa Bay to play the Rays, the Orioles’ charter is forced to make an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida because of smoke on the plane. The cause of the fire is not immediately known, but there are no reported injuries.