For the first time in team history, the Red Sox draw over three-million patrons at home. A crowd of 37,091 fans attending the first game of a day-night doubleheader on the last day of the season brings the season’s total to 3,010,801, marking the ninth straight year the attendance at Fenway Park has broken the franchise record.

In the last game played at Shea Stadium, the Mets complete their second dramatic late-season collapse in as many years, losing 4 – 2 to the Marlins. Relievers Scott Schoeneweis and Luis Ayala give up back-to-back homers to Wes Helms and Dan Uggla in the 8th inning to seal the Mets’s fate. Meanwhile, the Brewers defeat Chicago behind CC Sabathia’s four-hit complete game, in his third straight start on three days’ rest, and Ryan Braun’s home run, to clinch the National League Wild Card. New York led the NL East by 3 1/2 games with 17 games to play, but were passed by both the Phillies and Brewers to fall out of the playoff picture. For the Brewers, it will be a first postseason appearance since 1982.

On the final day of the season, Mike Mussina becomes the oldest pitcher to win 20 games in a season for the first time, reaching the milestone when he hurls six shutout innings in the Yankees’ 6-2 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The 39 year-old right-hander accomplish the feat in his final major league appearance, finishing his 18-year major league career 270-153 (.638) won-loss record.

The Phillies win the NL East title, beating the Nationals, 4 – 3, to overcome the Mets. Jimmy Rollins makes a sliding snare on a grounder by Ryan Zimmerman to start a game-ending double play. Brad Lidge improves to 41-for-41 in save opportunities for Philadelphia.

The Yankees crush the Red Sox, 19 – 8, on a rainy night at Fenway Park. Back-up shortstop Cody Ransom hits two homers while Robinson Cano drives in 5 runs and Brett Gardner 4 more in the rout. Boston’s loss means that Tampa Bay officially clinches the AL East division title. It is the first time since 1997 that neither Boston nor New York has won the AL East. Tampa Bay had never won 70 games in a season before this year.

The Rays, although they suffer a 6-4 defeat to the Tigers, win their first American League East title when the Red Sox lose to the Yankees later in the evening. Skipper Joe Maddon and just a few players remained in the Comerica Park clubhouse to watch the end of the rain-delayed contest in Boston which brings the title to Tampa Bay.

The Brewers move one game ahead of the Mets in the National League Wild Card race with a 5 – 1 win against the Cubs. Rickie Weeks’ three-run home run in the 7th is the big blow for the Brew Crew. Seth McClung pitches four innings of scoreless relief for the win.

Roy Halladay, giving up six hits and two runs in his ninth complete game of the season, posts his second 20-win season with an 8-2 victory over the Yankees at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays right-hander, en route to the Cy Young Award, compiled a 22-7 record in 2003.

The Mets stay just ahead in the wild card race, beating the Cubs, 7 – 6. In a losing cause, Micah Hoffpauir goes 5 for 5 and hits his first two big league home runs.

Ryan Braun hits a grand slam off Jesse Chavez with two outs in the bottom of the 10th to break a 1 – 1 tie and help Milwaukee to a 5 – 1 win over Pittsburgh. Milwaukee remains just short of New York in the wild card race; they will go on to win it.