Photos: Boston Red Sox Clinch American League East Division.
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Ralph Lauren reacts after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Lauren
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox delivers during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eduardo Rodriguez
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Luke Voit #45 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a two run home run during the second inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Luke Voit
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting an RBI single during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** J.D. Martinez
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox reacts to first base after hitting an RBI single during the second inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: David Price #24, Mitch Moreland #18, Steve Pearce #25, and Eduardo Nunez #36 of the Boston Red Sox react as runs score during the seventh inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Price; Mitch Moreland; Steve Pearce; Eduardo Nunez
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam during the fourth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Giancarlo Stanton
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jackie Bradley Jr.
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Brock Holt #12 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brock Holt
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox hits a three run home run during the eighth inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run during the eighth inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox hits a three run home run off of Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees during the eighth inning of a game on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts; Aroldis Chapman
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Craig Kimbrel #46 and Sandy Leon #3 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate as they clinch the American League East division after a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Craig Kimbrel; Sandy Leon
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Craig Kimbrel #46 and Sandy Leon #3 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate as they clinch the American League East division after a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Craig Kimbrel; Sandy Leon
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox celebrates as they clinch the American League East division after a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Cora
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Members of the Boston Red Sox celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching the American League East division following a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Xander Bogaerts #2 and David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate as they clinch the American League East division after a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xander Bogaerts; David Price
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Members of the Boston Red Sox celebrate as they clinch the American League East division after a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the clubhouse after clinching the American League East division following a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Cora
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Eduardo Nunez #$36 and Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching the American League East division following a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eduardo Nunez; Eduardo Rodriguez
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the clubhouse after clinching the American League East division following a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Sale
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Andrew Benintendi #16, Jackie Bradley Jr. #19, and Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate as they clinch the American League East division after a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the clubhouse after clinching the American League East division following a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** J.D. Martinez
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the clubhouse after clinching the American League East division following a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Andrew Benintendi #16 and Brock Holt #12 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching the American League East division following a victory against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andrew Benintendi; Brock Holt
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: of the Boston Red Sox during the inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
For the third straight year, the Boston Red Sox are champions of the American League East division. Mookie Betts led the charge last night in a back and forth game that finally ended in an 11-6 win against the Yankees.
This was the end result of a long, hard week of work. A lot of preparation goes into every game to set ourselves up to be in a position to get the images we need. We arrive hours early to the ballpark to remote cameras, figure out access and security, and scope out spots to position ourselves. It was frustrating to go through that process twice only to lose the first two games, but that made last night all the sweeter. A big thank you to Yankees photographers Ari and Barrie for being so accommodating and helping us get the shots we need. It was also great working along our team Staff Photographer, Matt Thomas, as well as the rest of our Creative Services team who made the trip down.
I’m back home now, but on the train ride home found myself thinking about how lucky I am to be a part of a special team and organization like this. Three division championships in three years doesn’t just happen in baseball, and I don’t take for granted the fact that I get to document a team of this caliber. Let’s hope for a deep run into October!