JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Not only is Gardner Minshew II capably filling in for the injured Nick Foles, the rookie sixth-round pick is beginning to show that he might be able to carry the Jacksonville Jaguars' offense.

The Jaguars' run game was essentially nonexistent Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans, so it was all on Minshew, and he delivered with two touchdown passes and two other scoring drives to lead the Jaguars to a 20-7 victory at TIAA Bank Field.

Minshew completed 20 of 30 passes for 204 yards and wasn't intercepted. His only interception this season came when one of his passes bounced off Leonard Fournette's face mask in the season opener against Kansas City.

It was his first victory as a starting quarterback and the Jaguars' first victory of the season. And it came on a short week and with a massive distraction when cornerback Jalen Ramsey asked the team to trade him.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak to the Titans, who embarrassed the Jaguars on national television last season.

Minshew threw both of his TD passes in the first quarter, making him just the second rookie to throw two TD passes in the first 10 minutes of a game in the past 10 seasons. The only other to do so was Tennessee's Marcus Mariota, who did it in his NFL debut in 2015.

Minshew has five touchdown passes to his one interception in three games. He's the second quarterback in franchise history to throw a TD pass in each of his first three games (Byron Leftwich did it in 2003).

Don Mattingly and the rebuilding Miami Marlins have agreed to a contract extension, a source told ESPN, confirming an El Extrabase report.

Mattingly will receive a two-year deal from the team, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan, confirming an MLB Network report. An official announcement is expected Friday, when Miami opens a three-game series against the visiting Nationals before finishing the season on a seven-game road trip.

Mattingly initially signed a four-year contract with the Marlins prior to the 2016 season. He is a career 272-364 with the team.

The 58-year-old Mattingly will be the first to manage the Marlins for more than four seasons.

Under new part-owner/CEO Derek Jeter, the Marlins have been in rebuilding mode, trading away key pieces in recent seasons such as Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton, J.T. Realmuto and Marcell Ozuna. They are an NL-worst 53-99 this season.

NEW YORK -- The resilient New York Yankees powered their way to the club's first American League East title since 2012, routing the Los Angeles Angels 9-1 on Thursday night behind three RBIs each from old mainstay Brett Gardner and newcomer DJ LeMahieu.

A day after wasting a chance to clinch first place, the homer-happy Yankees went ahead when LeMahieu hit a three-run drive in the second inning and breezed to their 100th win.

Gardner, among just two holdovers from their most recent World Series championship team in 2009, added a solo shot in the fourth and then hit a two-run double in the sixth. Cameron Maybin and Clint Frazier homered for good measure in the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman struck out Albert Pujols to end it as fans' cellphones flashed to record the moment.

Players lined up for handshakes and hugs, more exuberantly than usual, but there was no wild celebration on the field.

"We got a lot bigger fish to fry, but this is the first step along the way," manager Aaron Boone said. "Nothing has got in their way. Whatever has come adversity-wise, they faced it and powered right through it."

Despite putting 30 players on the injured list this season, New York (100-54) wrapped up first place with eight games to spare and made Aaron Boone the first manager to win 100 games in each of his first two major league seasons.

The Yankees open the playoffs on Oct. 4, likely against Minnesota, which leads the AL Central, or the wild-card winner.

Masahiro Tanaka (11-8), in line to start the opener, allowed Kole Calhoun's homer leading off the fourth. The Angels had just four hits in seven innings off Tanaka, who struck out six and walked one.

The win came hours after Domingo German, their top-winning pitcher at 18-4, was placed on administrative leave under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. His status for the postseason is uncertain.

New York's 19th AL East title was its first following a run of 13 in 17 years that started in Derek Jeter's rookie season. The Yankees, led by young stars Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres, will be making their 21st postseason appearance in 25 years and 55th overall -- 22 more than any other team.

And they will head to the October following their 21st 100-win season, their first in back-to-back years since 2002-04.

New York moved into sole possession of the lead for good on June 15 with the start of an eight-game winning streak, beginning a spurt of 13 victories in 14 games that ended the month. The Yankees led by 6½ games at the All-Star Game, won seven of their first nine after the break and have led by seven to 11½ games since. And they achieved their success despite so many players landing on the injured list, the most in the major leagues since at least 2004.

"Everybody's done a great job of stepping up when they're needed," Gardner said.

After Wednesday's 3-2 loss, the Yankees waited in their clubhouse for three hours until just before 1 a.m., hoping second-place Tampa Bay would lose at Los Angeles and ensure the division title for New York. But the Rays rallied in the ninth and defeated the Dodgers in 11 innings.

"It was probably actually a good little team building, bonding, one of those times you enjoy being together," Boone said,

Protective plastic remained overnight wrapping the six large-screen televisions in the Yankees' clubhouse, a sign that the bubbly and beer celebration was not too far off. Moments after the final out, the spraying started.

A few minutes later, many players headed back to the field for team pictures.

LeMahieu's homer, which followed a rare infield hit by slow-legged catcher Austin Romine with two outs, landed about three rows over the scoreboard in right-center, giving him career bests of 25 homers and 97 RBIs in his first season with the Yankees. Gardner also set career highs for homers (26) and RBIs (69), and New York extended its team record with 292 long balls.

LeMahieu was the fourth Yankee to reach the 25-homer mark this season, joining Gardner, Gleyber Torres (38) and Gary Sanchez (34). It's the fifth season in franchise history, and second straight, that at least four players hit 25.

In his second game back from an injury layoff of nearly three months, Giancarlo Stanton was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts as a designated hitter.

Andrew Heaney (4-6) gave up six runs and five hits in five-plus innings pitched for the Angels.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Let's be direct here: This shouldn't happen at the major league level. One team should not go 18-1 against another. It feels almost impossible in a sport where the spread between the best winning percentages and worst winning percentages is not as large as in the NBA or the NFL. Bad teams beat good teams all the time. It's the nature of baseball.

But it happened. The Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 7-0 on Thursday, finishing the season series with an 18-1 record against Detroit. That had never happened before. Since the majors split into divisions in 1969, no team had defeated an opponent 18 times. Since the format of 19 games against division opponents began in 2001, the best record had been 17-2 (including the Yankees against the Orioles this season).

Of course, the Tigers aren't exactly the 1998 Yankees:

The 1998 Yankees, perhaps the best team ever, had a run differential of +309.
The 2019 Tigers have a run differential of -306.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) September 20, 2019

Still, how does a team go 18-1? Let's find out with a quick game-by-game recap!

April 9 at Detroit: Indians 8, Tigers 2

It seems so long ago when Leonys Martin and Brad Miller were on the Indians. It's OK if you don't recall those halcyon days of April and May. Indians fans probably don't remember them either. They hit two of the club's four home runs.

April 10 at Detroit: Tigers 4, Indians 1

This was it. The victory. Matthew Boyd allowed one run in six inning, Niko Goodrum and John Hicks homered off Trevor Bauer, the Tigers made no errors and the Tigers were 8-4 and in first place, half a game ahead of the Indians.

April 11 at Detroit: Indians 4, Tigers 0

Shane Bieber won his first game of the season, tossing seven shutout frames and allowing three hits. Martin doubled and homered - on his way to a .199 average for Cleveland.

June 14 at Detroit: Indians 13, Tigers 4

The Tigers allowed 17 hits, walked five batters, allowed six unearned runs and struck out 10 times. Not a good night at the ballyard.

June 15 at Detroit: Indians 4, Tigers 2

Too much Bieber again. He fanned 12 in 7.2 innings.

June 16 at Detroit: Indians 8, Tigers 0

Bauer throws the four-hit shutout. Tigers pitchers surrender 14 hits and six walks. Are you getting the idea Detroit's offense may be on the weak side?

June 21 at Cleveland: Indians 7, Tigers 6

Game tied in the bottom of the eighth, Jose Ramirez singled on a dribbler down the line to start the winning rally. Jason Kipnis hit what the umpires ruled was a home run, but replay overturned the call and Kipnis instead had a triple. He scored anyway on a sac fly. In the top of the ninth, JaCoby Jones doubled to lead off and Christin Stewart singled him home. Then this happened:

Tigers lose 7-6.

June 22 at Cleveland: Indians 2, Tigers 0

If you're going to make your major league debut, the 2019 Tigers were a pretty good team to make it against. Aaron Civale allows two hits in six scoreless innings.

June 23 at Cleveland: Indians 8, Tigers 3

The Indians tag Daniel Norris for six hits and five runs in the second inning and Zach Plesac allows one run in seven innings

July 15 at Cleveland: Indians 8, Tigers 6

The Tigers hit four home runs! But the Indians bang out 14 hits - including two home runs by Oscar Mercado, the second one breaking a 5-5 tie after a rain delay:

July 16 at Cleveland: Indians 8, Tigers 0

If you're counting, this is four shutouts in 11 games. Four pitchers combined for the one-hitter.

July 17 at Cleveland: Indians 7, Tigers 2

Mike Clevinger fans 12 in six innings as the Indians staff combines for 17.

July 18 at Cleveland: Indians 6, Tigers 3

This would turn out to be Bauer's final home game in an Indians uniform. He fans 10 and Brad Hand strikes out as the Indians get 14 K's - that's 31 over two games. If you're counting.

August 27 at Detroit: Indians 10, Tigers 1

Adam Plutko and three relievers allow three hits and record 15 strikeouts. The Tigers allow 13 hits, five walks, six unearned run, throw a wild pitch, hit a batter and give up three home runs.

August 28 at Detroit: Indians 4, Tigers 2

It's tied 2-2 in the top of the eight when Francisco Lindor hits one just far enough:

August 29 at Detroit: Indians 2, Tigers 0

Yep, another shutout. Clevinger goes eight innings, Hand closes out the four-hitter.

September 17 at Cleveland: Indians 7, Tigers 2

The Indians rip out eight extra-base hits. The Tigers do not.

September 18 at Cleveland: Indians 2, Tigers 1 (10 innings)

Civale goes 7.2 innings, but the game goes extra innings. How does the winning run score? Roberto Perez led off the innings reaching on an error. After a bunt, an intentional walk, a groundout and another intentional walk - that's two more intentional walks than the Astros have issued all season, by the way - Yasiel Puig just misses a walk-off grand slam:

September 19 at Cleveland: Indians 7, Tigers 0

That's 17 straight wins over the Tigers and six shutouts for Cleveland in the season series. Not only did the Indians outscore the Tigers in 18 of 19 games, the Tigers had more hits than the Indians in just one game (they one won). The season stats against each other:

Indians batting: .302/.367/.524, 29 home runs, 6.11 runs per game

Tigers batting: .200/.239/.331, 16 home runs, 2.0 runs per game

The Indians ended up outscoring the Tigers 116 to 38, a plus-78 run differential (4.11 per game). Where does this season destruction rank on the all-time list? Some others that I found (not comprehensive):

Division era shutouts (10 or more wins)

1993 Braves vs. Rockies: 13-0, +56 runs (4.31 per game)

1996 Indians vs. Tigers: 12-0, +51 runs (4.25 per game)

1998 Yankees vs. Royals: 10-0, +56 runs (5.6 per game)

Division era domination

2019 Yankees vs. Orioles: 17-2, +68 (3.58 per game

2006 A's vs. Mariners: 17-2, +60 runs (3.16 per game)

1986 Mets vs. Pirates: 17-1, +55 runs (3.06 per game)

1975 Reds vs. Cubs: 11-1, +48 runs (4.0 per game)

1974 Braves vs. Padres: 17-1, +62 runs (3.44 per game)

1974 Dodgers vs. Padres: 16-2, +82 runs (4.56 per game)

Dominant teams of the past

1954 Indians vs Red Sox: 20-2, +58 (2.64 per game)

1953 Dodgers vs. Pirates: 20-2, +63 runs (2.86 per game)

1939 Yankees vs. Browns: 19-3, +85 runs (3.86 per game) 1927 Yankees vs. Browns: 21-1, +85 runs (3.86 per game)

Fun note: The Dodgers went 16-2 against the Mets in 1962 and 1963.

As you can see, Cleveland's dominance over Detroit is one of the most impressive we've seen. But get this: the Astros may match that 18-1 record. Houston is 16-1 against Seattle with two games remaining. Their run differential per game, however, is a mere 3.24.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans great Eddie George addressed the team before practice last Thursday, urging the players to take the home opener against Indianapolis personally. If quarterback Marcus Mariota took former running back's words to heart, he's surely feeling sick after Tennessee's disappointing loss.

Mariota finished the day having completed 19 of his 28 pass attempts for 154 yards and a touchdown. But there were a lot of plays left on the field for him and the Titans offense. No one questions Mariota's talent and potential, but issues that typically plague first- or second-year quarterbacks continue to surface even in Mariota's fifth season.

The very first offensive play of the game is a perfect example: Mariota had Delanie Walker wide open with plenty of space to run, but the pass was behind the tight end and fell incomplete. (Animation provided by NFL Next Gen Stats.)

Instead of starting the game with a big play, the opening series resulted in a three-and-out.

Mariota missed another opportunity later when he didn't connect with a wide-open Corey Davis on an out-breaking route that would have been at least a 12-yard gain. Instead, Tennessee was forced to punt, failing to take advantage of a Logan Ryan interception that gave the Titans the ball at their own 40-yard line.

Sacks are another issue. The Titans gave up four on Sunday, but some of those are on Mariota for not getting rid of the ball fast enough. Walker had a chance at making a big play when he was wide open on a crossing route, but Mariota failed to pull the trigger even though the tight end came open right in front of him. The play ended in a 7-yard loss when Mariota was sacked.

Make way for Denico Autry. #INDvsTEN pic.twitter.com/r5TCgzhlWL

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 15, 2019

"Maybe instead of taking some of these sacks, just dumping it off so we can go and get some positive yards. Those are things that I've got to do better and help our offense out," Mariota said during his postgame news conference.

"We discussed being able to scramble when you have to scramble," coach Mike Vrabel said, "and know when you have to get out there, check the ball down when you have to, or throw it away when you have to."

Mariota could have checked down to running back Dion Lewis for a minimal gain on a third-down play in the third quarter, but instead he took a sack that resulted in a 7-yard loss. That led to a longer field goal attempt for Cairo Santos (from 45 yards), who missed the kick.

"In that situation, obviously getting the ball out [and] not taking a sack would've been better," Mariota said of the play.

Mariota's lone touchdown pass came on a tackle-eligible play in which he found offensive lineman David Quessenberry for a 1-yard touchdown. Quessenberry was able to haul in the pass even though it was slightly behind him.

Mariota's accuracy, field vision and pocket awareness have to get better.

To his credit, Mariota does make some outstanding plays to offset the bad ones. He has shown an ability to extend plays and still deliver strikes to receivers down the field. For example, he rolled to his left on a play against the Colts and delivered a bullet to A.J. Brown for an 11-yard gain on an out-breaking route. Mariota's play-action pass to Davis in the first quarter was also on the money, allowing him to gain yards after the catch.

Winning and losing is a total team effort. It's wrong to say the Titans lost on Sunday because of Mariota, but it's fair to say they could have won if he had played better. Mariota has to make progress if the Titans want to make a run and find themselves playing after December.

CHICAGO -- With their season on the line, the Chicago Cubs were forced to scratch veteran left-hander Cole Hamels from his scheduled start Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, choosing to pitch Alec Mills in his place.

Hamels, 35, has left shoulder soreness that is expected to sideline him for one outing.

"Anytime a guy like that says it's bothering him a bit, you have to really believe it," manager Joe Maddon said. "Especially at this time of year, how much he loves to compete and play right now."

Hamels has struggled over the past couple of months, compiling a 7.36 ERA in his eight most recent starts.

Mills, 27, will make his third start of the season after spending most of the year at Triple-A Iowa. He gave up five runs in 10⅓ innings in his first two starts.

Meanwhile, Anthony Rizzo, who wasn't in the original lineup Thursday night, is playing. He'll lead off and play first base. He has been out since Sunday with an injured ankle.

The Cubs also activated closer Craig Kimbrel from the injured list; he's been out with elbow soreness. He is available for Thursday's opener of a four-game series against St. Louis. The team could also benefit from the return of Javy Baez -- at least as a pinch runner. Baez has been out with a thumb injury but was cleared to resume light baseball activities. Maddon is expected to use him only on the basepaths, if he's needed.

"He'll wear one of those oven mitts," Maddon said.

The Cubs entered Thursday three games behind the first-place Cardinals in the National League Central, and the teams play seven of their final 10 games against each other.