Twins Win Division, Mauer Batting Title

Minnesota won its fourth American League Central title in five years, and Joe Mauer became the first catcher to win the league’s batting title by getting two hits in the Twins’ 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

The Twins will open the playoffs at home Tuesday against AL West champion Oakland.

Minnesota began the game tied with Detroit for first place, but it needed to win and the Tigers to lose to win the division title because Detroit won the season series against the Twins.

Mauer finished with a .347 batting average, beating out New York’s Derek Jeter, who finished at .343. Mauer began the game leading Jeter by .001, but Jeter was one for five against Toronto.

The only catchers to win batting titles had been Bubbles Hargrave with Cincinnati in 1926, and Ernie Lombardi with Cincinnati in 1938 and the Boston Braves in 1942.