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Betts hurt but appears OK as Red Sox close in on AL East title

The Associated Press

BOSTON — Mookie Betts doesn’t seem to be badly hurt, so the Red Sox can focus on clinching the American League East at Yankee Stadium for the second time in three seasons.

Betts gave Boston a scare when he injured his left side making two throws to home plate during a 4-3 win over the New York Mets on Sunday that cut Boston’s magic number to two for a third straight division title.

“It kind of flared back up on the second throw. It’ll be fine. I’ll be ready to play Tuesday,” Betts said. “I was just coming out for precautionary (reasons) just to make sure it didn’t get worse. Everything checked out fine and I’ll be ready to go.”

Boston has an 11 1/2-game lead over the Yankees and would clinch with one win during a three-game series that opens Tuesday.

“We’ve been looking at the standings and a lot of people have been talking about it for a month-and-a-half,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Now, it’s right there. If it happens Tuesday, it’s going to be a fun night.”

Betts, hitting .337 with 29 homers and 72 RBIs, caught a fly ball from Jeff McNeil in the sixth inning and threw home as Austin Jackson held at third. Wilmer Flores followed with another drive to right, and Betts unsuccessfully threw home as Jackson scored on the sacrifice fly.

Betts went down to one knee, and the three-time All-Star was stretching his left side and back as a team athletic trainer and Cora jogged to the outfield. Betts walked off slowly and was replaced. Cora said Betts will get treatment today.

Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning off Seth Lugo (3-4) after a matchup of Sale and New York’s Jacob deGrom, both Cy Young Award candidates. Brandon Workman (5-0) pitched a scoreless eighth, and former University of Hawaii pitcher Steven Wright got three outs for his first big league save.

Sale allowed one hit in three scoreless innings, lowering his AL-best ERA to 1.92 and extending his scoreless streak to 32, the longest in the major leagues this season. He made his second start after a pair of trips to the disabled list caused by mild left shoulder inflammation limited him to one appearance nearly six weeks.

“I feel a 100 percent and wouldn’t be going out there if I wasn’t,” Sale said.

DeGrom gave up three runs and five hits over seven innings with 12 strikeouts and one walk, his major league-leading ERA rising slightly to 1.78. He has gone a major league-record 27 straight starts holding opponent to three or fewer runs, according the Elias Sports Bureau.

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