The Red Sox win the championship! - MLB

OK, it was just the Governors’ Cup, the trophy given to the winner of the Triple-A level International League championship. But it is one thing for the Red Sox to celebrate in a dismal 2012 season. They hadn’t won the title in 28 years.

The Pawtucket Red Sox finished a sweep of the best-of-five series over the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox affiliate, on Thursday, winning 4-1.

Journeyman right-hander Nelson Figueroa picked up the win for the PawSox, allowing one run in six innings. Jeremy Hazelbaker, Juan Carlos Linares, Mike Rivera and Che-Hsuan Lin drove in the runs. The lone top prospect in the lineup, right fielder Bryce Brentz, went 0-for-4, but he did finish the series 4-for-12.

Game 2 of the series featured Zach Stewart shutting out his old team for six innings on his way to the win. Stewart pitched for Charlotte before being included in the Kevin Youkilis trade in June.

Now that the PawSox season is over, one imagines a few players will be added to Boston’s roster for Friday’s game. Stewart, Lin and Danny Valencia would be obvious additions.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.

New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.