As a shirtless Mike Napoli walked through the Fenway infield, as a jubilant Koji Uehara sprayed champagne from the top of the dugout, as a satisfied Jonny Gomes walked around the celebratory scene with an army hat on, it wasn’t just about the moment for a team that had just clinched the American League East. Instead, it was about the restoration of the Boston Red Sox, a proud franchise that had fallen on some hard times the last couple of years.

It was all just so fitting. In a storybook season, the Red Sox reached Destination No. 1 in storybook fashion during Friday night’s 6-3 win over the Blue Jays at Fenway. The Sox won the American League East behind an outstanding performance from Jon Lester.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle drew his sixth ejection of the season in the eighth inning of Friday night’s game, for vehemently objecting to warnings being issued to both benches after Andrew McCutchen was drilled by Reds reliever Sam LeCure.

It is only 1/27th of a regulation baseball game. But the 27th out is more difficult than the other 26 put together. Not just for the closer, a baseball team’s paramedic. But for whomever the ball is hit to. Neither Mark Melancon nor shortstop Jordy Mercer handled it well Friday night and, as a result, the Cincinnati Reds, like 36 cat burglars, stole their way out of PNC Park with a 6-5 win in 10 innings.

Right-hander Max Scherzer became the first pitcher to win 20 games this season as the Tigers pounded the White Sox, 12-5, on Friday night at Comerica Park to cut their magic number to clinch the AL Central to three.

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was dominant, pitching a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and keeping the Nationals’ Wild Card hopes alive, as they pounded the Marlins, 8-0, at Nationals Park on Friday night. Washington remains five games behind the Reds and Pirates in the National League Wild Card race. The Reds defeated the Pirates, 6-5, in 10 innings at PNC Park.

In a thriller, the Reds were down to their final out before they scored four unanswered runs over the ninth and 10th innings for a 6-5 victory. The game-winner came on Joey Votto’s solo home run with one out in the top of the 10th against Kyle Farnsworth.

Alex Rodriguez rewrote the record books to become baseball’s grand slam leader and CC Sabathia turned in his best effort in months, leading the Yankees to a 5-1victory over the Giants on Friday at Yankee Stadium.

The Mets were happy to see the name of David Wright penciled into the starting lineup on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. In his first at-bat back from a right hamstring strain, Wright belted a two-run homer off Phillies starter Cole Hamels in the first inning to give him 221 for his career, which moved him into sole possession of second place on the Mets’ all-time home run list, ahead of Mike Piazza and behind Darryl Strawberry’s 252 blasts.

The Indians picked up a 2-1 rain-shortened win against the Astros on Friday night thanks to some some poor defense by Houston and the storm that soon followed at Progressive Field. The victory was the seventh in the past nine games for the rolling Tribe, which claimed one of the two AL Wild Card spots thanks to Texas’ loss at Kansas City.

Alex Rodriguez connected for the 24th grand slam of his career on Friday, altering the record book by breaking a tie with Lou Gehrig to become the all-time leader in the category.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly stated the obvious Friday, saying Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke are lined up to start Games 1 and 2 of the National League Division Series.

Brian McCann’s two-out RBI single fueled the Braves’ four-run ninth inning after they squandered a four-run lead in Friday afternoon’s 9-5 win over the Cubs, reducing their magic number to clinch the NL East to one.

Poolgate took on a life of its own Friday, with reliever Brian Wilson and Sen. John McCain tweeting barbs while manager Don Mattingly voiced concern that the controversy over the Dodgers’ pool party at Chase Field would obscure the reason for the partying.

One day later, the bad feelings from the Dodgers’ decision to take a celebratory dip in the Chase Field pool after they clinched the National League West title Thursday have not diminished. GM Kevin Towers weighed in on the issue on Friday.

The Braves activated Jason Heyward from the disabled list and placed him in the starting lineup for Friday afternoon’s game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

One day after expressing definitive encouragement in regards to Joe Mauer’s return off the disabled list, Twins general manager Terry Ryan flipped the script on Friday and questioned whether the All-Star catcher will see another at-bat before the end of the 2013 season.