David Ortiz took a direct hit of champagne as the Red Sox celebrated clinching the AL East title with a 6-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Barry Chin/Globe Staff

David Ortiz took a direct hit of champagne as the Red Sox celebrated clinching the AL East title with a 6-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Closer Koji Uehara recorded the final out of Friday's game.

Brian Snyder/Reuters

Closer Koji Uehara recorded the final out of Friday's game.

Players raced out of the dugout to begin celebrating.

Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff

Players raced out of the dugout to begin celebrating.

This marks the first time in franchise history the team went from last place to first.

Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff

This marks the first time in franchise history the team went from last place to first.

Starting pitcher Jon Lester allowed one run over seven strong innings for his 100th career victory.

Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Starting pitcher Jon Lester allowed one run over seven strong innings for his 100th career victory.

Ortiz wore a T-shirt commemorating the Red Sox’ first division title since 2007.

Brian Snyder/Reuters

Ortiz wore a T-shirt commemorating the Red Sox’ first division title since 2007.

The win marks the 20th save for Uehara (right).

Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff

The win marks the 20th save for Uehara (right).

Ortiz handed the microphone to Stephen Drew's 7-year-old son.

Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff

Ortiz handed the microphone to Stephen Drew's 7-year-old son.

Daniel Nava was congratulated in the dugout after scoring in the third inning.

Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Daniel Nava was congratulated in the dugout after scoring in the third inning.

Ortiz had an RBI single in the seventh.

Barry Chin/Globe staff

Ortiz had an RBI single in the seventh.

The Sox open the playoffs on Oct. 4. They have seven more games to gain the top seed in the American League.

Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff

The Sox open the playoffs on Oct. 4. They have seven more games to gain the top seed in the American League.

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 3

Red Sox clinch AL East

The joy was unrestrained at Fenway Park as the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays and won the division title.

GRAPHIC

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/18/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/1990--90x90.JPG How did past AL East champions fare?

The Red Sox have won the AL East for the seventh time since 1969 — and only one of those teams won the World Series.

The scene on Yawkey Way during a Red Sox game.

Red Sox, BRA agree to $7.3m deal for Yawkey, Lansdowne

The team will make annual payments over the next decade to buy the rights for the use of Yawkey Way and Lansdowne Street.

Signs including Christen Dellorco’s compete for attention.

Wendy Maeda/Globe staff

Mayoral rivals hotly contest their common ground

Campaigns are doing their best to pick off every vote, splitting neighborhoods, streets, and even families in the process.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/20/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/a317a4106b2d4beb94338721bef7779d-a317a4106b2d4beb94338721bef7779d-0-2561--90x90.jpg House GOP vote ups risk of shutdown

If the sides can’t bridge a wide gap before Sept. 30, the federal government would shut down for the first time since 1995.

Prosecutors demand Bulger forfeit $25m in assets

Evidence shows that James “Whitey” Bulger raked in millions from shaking down drug dealers, businessmen, and one of his murder victims, prosecutors said.

7 schools designated as underperforming by state

Those targeted by the state include two Boston elementary schools, the Channing and Winthrop schools.

Opinion

Derrick Z. Jackson

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/21/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/Derrick_Z_Jackson_150px-2438.jpg Boston’s voters must look for vision

For the leap into greatness, the city now needs an urban weaver to knit and braid it into complete cloth.

Sports

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on baseball

Manager John Farrell (middle) embraces David Ortiz as the Red Sox celebrate a division championship one year after finishing last in the AL East.

Vision, and a sight to behold

The Red Sox won the division with ease, never losing more than three straight games, and it’s the first time in franchise history they’ve gone from worst to first.

Nation & World

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Benjamin Netanyahu’s office dismissed the reports as “media spin.”

Benjamin Netanyahu rejects idea of Iran talks

Israel’s prime minister moved quickly to block even tentative steps by Iran and the United States to ease tensions and head toward negotiations to end the nuclear crisis.