Red Sox clinch AL East:

NEW YORK — The Boston Red Sox have won the AL East, clinching the division championship when the Toronto Blue Jays lost to Baltimore. David Ortiz and the Red Sox, who had already secured at least a wild-card spot in the playoffs, will open their postseason schedule Oct. 6 seeking a second World Series crown in four years.

Fire eliminated from playoffs:

SEATTLE — Chad Marshall headed in a corner kick in the 24th minute, and the Seattle Sounders beat the Chicago Fire 1-0 on Wednesday night to get back into the MLS playoff picture. The Sounders (12-13-5) have 41 points and climbed into a tie with idle Portland for the sixth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference. Chicago (6-15-9) was eliminated from postseason contention. The Fire have four games remaining and can finish with no more than 39 points.

Freeman’s streak at 30 games:

ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 30 games, Matt Kemp hit a 2-run homer and Daniel Castro drove in 3 runs, leading the surging Atlanta Braves to a 12-2 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night. Freeman extended the longest streak in the big leagues this season with a single in the sixth off Phil Klein. Freeman had been tied with Boston’s Jackie Bradley, who put together a 29-game run in April and May.

Bryant has hairline fracture:

FRISCO, Texas — Dez Bryant could be joining Tony Romo on the sidelines again, just like a year ago when Dallas slid from first place to last in the NFC East without the two offensive stars. The Cowboys are resolute about playing with who they have this time, although there’s a chance Bryant could play Sunday in San Francisco despite a hairline fracture in his right knee. Bryant didn’t practice Wednesday, three days after the receiver was hurt in a win over the Bears, and the same day he had the MRI that revealed the fracture.

Rose appeals to Hall of Fame:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pete Rose is appealing directly to baseball’s Hall of Fame to restore his eligibility, arguing the lifetime ban he agreed to in 1989 was never intended to keep him out of Cooperstown. A seven-page letter to Hall president Jeff Idelson on Tuesday made the case that the settlement agreement reached by Rose and then-Commissioner Bart Giamatti didn’t include a provision that he be ineligible for election to the Hall of Fame.