Judge adds to MVP resume as Yankees roll past Orioles to keep pace in AL East
Aaron Judge belts his 53rd homer and drives in three as New York extends its win streak, while AL East fate hinges on remaining standings and other results
In the Bronx on Saturday, Aaron Judge bolstered his AL MVP case by powering the Yankees past the Orioles 6-1, a victory that kept New York within reach in the AL East as the division race remained unsettled pending other results. Judge hit his 53rd home run, drove in three runs and lifted his batting average to .331, moving closer to the batting title while the team extended its win streak to seven.
Judge set the tone with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first off Tomoyuki Sugano, his fourth in four games and 10th in 18, giving the Yankees a quick lead. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a solo shot in the second, marking the second straight game in which both hitters connected, a 59th all-time pair for the franchise. Ryan McMahon added a homer later in the frame as New York jumped in front 3-0.
Cam Schlittler, a rookie right-hander, delivered a career-best seven shutout innings, tying his personal best with nine strikeouts while allowing just two hits, one walk, and two hit batters. He is likely to be the third starter for the Yankees in the postseason behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, if the team reaches the postseason.
After Aaron Boone was ejected in the fifth for arguing two called pitches against Judge, the captain delivered a two-run single in the fifth to stretch the lead to 5-0. Cody Bellinger added a sacrifice fly later in the rally.
Coby Mayo led off the eighth with a homer off Paul Blackburn for Baltimore's lone run.
The game also carried concern for Jazz Chisholm Jr., who exited in the fifth after being hit on the left forearm by a 97 mph sinker from Grant Wolfram. Initial X-rays were negative, but the team planned a CT scan to determine the extent of the injury.
With the win, the Yankees improved to 93-68, but the Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker, leaving New York needing to finish one game ahead to claim a second straight division title and a bye into the ALDS. The Rays remain in the mix, and the division outcome will hinge on their result against Toronto.
Judge finished the day at .331 and is poised to win the batting title, with his 53rd homer already a milestone. He would join a small group of players to hit 50 or more homers while winning the batting title, a rarity in MLB history. The major-league home run leader entering Saturday was Cal Raleigh, who had 60 homers at the time.
The Yankees also received another strong start from Cam Schlittler, who has moved into consideration as the club's third postseason starter behind Fried and Rodón, should New York reach October play.
