ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels soaked the jersey in beer, champagne and tears, holding Nick Adenhart's No. 34 high in the middle of the celebration he missed.

Los Angeles is headed back to the playoffs for the sixth time in eight years, and the Angels intend to go with the memory of their late teammate alongside them. The 22-year-old pitcher's death in an April car accident roiled their season early on, but it couldn't sink this resilient team.

Kendry Morales homered and drove in three runs, and the Angels wasted no time clinching their third straight AL West title with an 11-0 victory over the second-place Texas Rangers last night.

"We remembered Nick before we started," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Adenhart, who was killed hours after his strong season debut on April 8. "We've played the whole year with heavy hearts. But it was never about us, and it isn't about us. It's all about supporting Nick's family in any small way, and we're going to bring Nick's memory forward."

Ervin Santana (8-8) pitched a seven-hitter for his fourth career shutout, while Maicer Izturis had three hits and two RBIs to wrap up the Angels' fifth division crown in six years. Los Angeles (92-64) will open at home in the best-of-five first round next week — most likely against Boston, a familiar nemesis. The Red Sox need one win or a Texas loss to earn the AL wild card.

Adenhart's death was the most painful of several major obstacles for the Angels, who persevered through early season injuries, midseason lulls and a late-summer slump for their productive offense.

"We had a rough start, lost a dear friend and teammate, and we didn't do much in the first half," outfielder Torii Hunter said. "We made this a very special season, though. We're going to celebrate tonight, and then get ready for what's next."

Last night, Los Angeles took a 7-0 lead in the third against rookie Tommy Hunter (9-5). Erick Aybar and Vladimir Guerrero drove in two runs each, while Bobby Abreu had three hits.

BLUE JAYS 11, RED SOX 5:

Visiting Toronto took advantage of Boston's Josh Beckett being scratched from his scheduled start with back spasms by scoring seven runs off substitute Michael Bowden in a game that was called in the seventh inning because of rain.

It was the fourth straight loss for Boston, which could have clinched the AL wild card with a victory and a Texas loss to Los Angeles yesterday. The Rangers lost 11-0 to the Angels, leaving Boston six games ahead in the wild card with seven games to play.

Jose Bautista, Aaron Hill and Rod Barajas homered for the Blue Jays.

YANKEES 8, ROYALS 2:

Robinson Cano capped a five-run seventh inning with a grand slam against visiting Kansas City to lead New York's makeshift lineup in win No. 101.

One day after the Yankees secured their first AL East title since 2006, Ramiro Pena hit his first major league home run and Shelley Duncan had a tiebreaking single in the sixth. New York rested most of its regulars for the opener of a three-game series.

WHITE SOX 6, INDIANS 1:

Gordon Beckham drove in three runs, and John Danks fired a complete game as Chicago beat host Cleveland.

Danks (13-10) allowed three hits and one run, striking out seven in his first complete game at any level since being drafted in 2003 by Texas. Shin-Soo Choo hit his 19th homer leading off the seventh to break up the left-hander's bid for his first career shutout.

RAYS 7, ORIOLES 6:

Pat Burrell hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and pinch-hitter Willy Aybar had one of four Tampa Bay homers to extend visiting Baltimore's losing streak to 11 games.

Gabe Kapler, Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria also homered for the Rays.