**Blue Jays Clinch AL East Title with Kirk's Historic Performance**

The Toronto Blue Jays secured the American League East title on Sunday, marking their first division championship since 1992. The clinching victory came at home against the Tampa Bay Rays, with a final score of 13-4. A sold-out crowd witnessed the historic moment, many of whom were either too young or not yet born during the franchise's last division win.

Alejandro Kirk emerged as the standout player, hitting two home runs, including his first career grand slam. He finished the game with six RBIs and a total of 14 bases in just four at-bats. Kirk received a curtain call after his grand slam in the first inning and was met with two standing ovations during his subsequent at-bats. Even after striking out in the eighth inning, the crowd showed their appreciation with a third ovation.

Despite the celebration, the game was not without its challenges. Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman struggled, failing to deliver a strong performance. He pitched only 3.2 innings, allowing three runs in the third inning before leaving the game with the bases loaded. Mason Fluharty came in as a relief pitcher and struck out the final batter of the inning, helping to stabilize the situation. Gausman’s outing raised his season total to a career-high 193 innings, but he will need to improve as he is expected to start in the upcoming AL Division Series.

The Blue Jays finished the regular season with a record of 94-68, clinching their seventh division title. They will now prepare for the best-of-five divisional series, where they will face the winner of the wild card matchup between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees, who were tied with the Jays for the division lead entering the day, lost their chance at the title when Toronto won the season series.

As the Blue Jays look ahead to the postseason, they will need to address the performance of key players. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has struggled recently, and his ability to regain his power will be crucial for the team's success. The Blue Jays will also monitor the health of players like Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, and Ty France as they prepare for their next game on October 4 at home, where they had a strong record of 54-27 during the regular season.

With the excitement of the division title still fresh, the Blue Jays are focused on making a deep playoff run, hoping to build on their recent success and capitalize on their momentum heading into the postseason.