Toronto Blue Jays Win AL East Title
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Blue Jays Clinch AL East Title, Kirk Hits Grand Slam
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By Ian Harrison, The Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) - Alejandro Kirk hit two home runs, including his first career grand slam, adn the Toronto Blue Jays clinched their first AL East title in a decade by routing the Tampa Bay Rays 13-4 in their regular-season finale on Sunday, September 29, 2024.
George Springer and Addison Barger also went deep for the Blue Jays, who needed a win or a New York Yankees loss to secure the division. The Yankees lost to the Kansas City Royals, further solidifying Toronto’s position.
The Blue Jays finished with a record of 92-70, marking their best regular season as 1993. Tampa Bay finished 91-71.
Kirk’s Historic Performance
Kirk’s grand slam came on an 83 mph changeup from Ian Seymour.It was a pivotal moment in a game where the Blue Jays consistently extended their lead. He finished the day with 5 RBIs.
Lineup Adjustments and Player Milestones
Rays regulars Brandon Lowe and Chandler Simpson were held out of the starting lineup. For the Blue Jays, Kevin Kiermaier was given a day off. Díaz played a career-high 150 games this season, demonstrating his durability and importance to the team.
Fan Support and Attendance
The Blue Jays drew 2,848,935 fans this season, an increase from 2,681,236 in 2023. ESPN’s MLB attendance data confirms this growth in fan engagement.
| Year | Attendance |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2,681,236 |
| 2024 | 2,848,935 |
Looking Ahead: Division Series
Toronto will host Game 1 of a best-of-five Division Series on Saturday against the winner of the Wild Card Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. MLB’s official postseason schedule details the upcoming matchups.