ARLINGTON, Texas: Mike Napoli blasted two home runs and knocked in six runs for Texas in an 8-7 victory Sunday over the Los Angeles Angels that clinched Major League Baseball playoff berths for three clubs.
The triumphant Rangers, two-time defending American League champions but losers in the 2010 and 2011 World Series finals, ensured themselves, the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles playoff berths by defeating the Angels.
The Rangers, who lost 5-4 to the Angels earlier in the day, improved to 93-66, two games ahead of Oakland in the AL West division with a three-game season-ending series for Texas at Oakland on Monday.
Oakland, which defeated Seattle 5-2 on Sunday, must sweep the Rangers to win the AL West crown but the A’s need only win once to clinch a playoff berth.
Baltimore beat Boston 6-3 and the Yankees beat Toronto 9-6 to do their part to claim American League playoff spots, but in the fight for the AL East division crown they remained deadlocked at 92-67 with three games to play.
Either the Orioles or Yankees must settle for a wild-card playoff berth as a division runner-up.
The Angels rallied to beat Texas 5-4 in the first game of a double-header and seized a 4-0 lead in the first inning of game two on a two-run homer from Mark Trumbo before the Rangers rallied in impressive fashion.
A run-scoring double in the first inning by Josh Hamilton was followed by solo homers from Napoli and David Murphy in the second and a three-run homer by Napoli in the third inning to put Texas ahead 6-4.
Napoli added a two-run double in the fifth inning but Howie Kendrick responded for Los Angeles with a three-run homer in the seventh inning that pulled the Angels within the final margin.
In the opener at Texas, Torii Hunter smacked a two-out, two-run double to the wall in left-centerfield in the ninth inning to produce an Angels victory.
The Rangers squandered a 4-1 lead and a solid pitching effort by Japan’s Yu Darvish, who struck out seven batters, walked only one and scattered nine hits over 6 2/3 innings.
That victory and Tampa Bay’s 6-2 triumph over the Chicago White Sox kept both teams in contention for a wildcard berth but the Angels or Tampa Bay must sweep their final three games and have Oakland lose three times to Texas.
The AL Central division champion will claim the fifth and final playoff spot, with Detroit needing only one victory from three games at Kansas City or one White Sox loss at Cleveland to clinch that division title and playoff spot.
The Orioles, enjoying their winningest season since 1997, and Yankees did their parts to ensure a playoff spot by winning afternoon contests.
Balitmore seized a 5-0 lead in the first three innings and rolled to victory with Nate McLouth, J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis all hitting homers for the host Orioles.
At Toronto, the Yankees battled back from a 5-1 deficit.
Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki’s sacrifice fly scored Eduardo Nunez in the seventh inning. Robinson Cano followed with a double to score Derek Jeter from second and Alex Rodriguez scored from third on a wild pitch to equalize at 5-5.
Nunez’s sacrifice fly and a Jeter single each added runs in the eighth and Curtis Granderson singled in two more key runs in the ninth for New York.
Washington, Atlanta, Cincinnati and San Francisco have secured National League playoff spots and the reigning World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals moved closer to taking the last spot by beating Washington 10-4.
The Cardinals could clinch on Monday with a victory and loss by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Washington needs one victory or Atlanta loss in the last three days of the six-month season to clinch the NL East division crown.
Rangers, Yankees, Orioles nail playoff berths
Rangers, Yankees, Orioles nail playoff berths
E1 World Championship opens 2026 season in Jeddah with expanded field, growing global profile
- Season’s opener features record 10 teams
JEDDAH: The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF will launch its new season in Jeddah, with the Red Sea city once again hosting the world’s first all-electric raceboat series, and champions Team Brady beginning their title defense against an expanded and competitive field.
Set against Jeddah’s Red Sea coastline, the season-opening E1 Jeddah GP 2026, which takes place over Jan. 23-24, will feature a record 10 teams racing the cutting-edge E1 RaceBirds, underlining the rapid growth of the championship and its ambitions as a global competition spanning four continents.
Team Brady are the outfit to beat, having claimed the Champions of the Water title in 2024 and 2025. However, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, with several teams strengthening their lineups ahead of the new campaign.
Team Monaco and Sierra Racing Club join the championship for 2026, adding further depth to the grid with a mix of experienced and emerging pilots. Team Rafa, who finished just 11 points behind Team Brady last season after a title fight that went down to the final laps, are widely regarded as one of the leading contenders and will be aiming to make an early statement in Jeddah.
Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James also return to race on home waters, one year on from their E1 debut. Carrying local pride, the team will be looking to build on last season’s momentum in front of Saudi fans.
The world-class field is further strengthened by a roster of high-profile, celebrity-backed teams, including Will Smith’s Team Westbrook, DJ Steve Aoki’s Team Aoki, Team Drogba, led by football legend Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire, and Team Miami, featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Marc Anthony.
Fans will be able to get close to the action across qualifying and race day, with on-water viewing available from the E1 Fan Zone. The area will give visitors the chance to see the E1 RaceBirds up close and will feature a gaming arena with simulator and virtual reality experiences, as well as a VOX cinema screening of “Zootopia 2.” Merchandise outlets and a range of food and beverage options will also be available, creating a family-friendly race-day experience.
Beyond the racing, E1’s return to Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the future of electric sport and sustainable mobility. The championship serves as a living laboratory for electric propulsion systems, accelerating innovation that can influence marine transport while also supporting broader conversations around ocean protection.
As part of its partnership with E1, Formula E’s Driving Force Presented by PIF E360 is hosting its educational program in Jeddah this week. The initiative aims to inspire students aged 8 to 18 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as sustainability, through the lens of electric racing.
The program reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025 alone, with a further 50,000 targeted this year, taking its reach to over 100,000 young people worldwide.
On the sporting side, PIF’s commitment to excellence will again be recognized through the PIF Pilot of the Day award, presented after finals day to honor standout skill and performance over the race weekend.
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, said: “Starting our 2026 season in Jeddah is a powerful statement for E1. The region represents ambition, innovation and a clear vision for the future, and the Red Sea provides the perfect environment as our largest grid yet of 10 teams begin their battle to be crowned 2026 Champions of the Water.”
The Jeddah race is set to deliver high-intensity competition, renewed rivalries and an early glimpse into the future of high-performance racing on water.
