Stanton, Judge power Yankees past Orioles but AL East lead remains unresolved

Giancarlo Stanton powered the Yankees with two two-run homers, and Aaron Judge added another long ball as New York defeated Baltimore 8-4 on Friday night in the Bronx. The win kept the Yankees in the thick of the American League East race but did not vault them past Toronto, which won in Toronto to maintain control of the division race.

New York improved to 92-68 and remained tied for the division lead with the Blue Jays. Toronto owns the tiebreaker, going 8-5 against the Yankees this season, so New York still must make up ground to claim the AL East title. The Blue Jays could clinch as early as Saturday with a win and a Yankees defeat. The Rays’ loss to Toronto helped keep the Jays at the top of the standings, limiting the Yankees’ chances to leapfrog on the next turn.

Stanton’s five RBIs in the game came from two two-run shots, underscoring a potent night for the Yankees’ offense. Judge homered for the 58th time this season, and the pair’s connection remains among the most productive in the majors; their 58th homer jointly ties for the eighth-most in history by a duo of teammates. The offensive burst provided a clear example of the kind of power the Yankees hoped to lean on in a tight division race as they head into the penultimate day of the regular season still needing favorable results elsewhere.

The result left the Yankees in a position where they must continue to win games while watching the outcomes of other games around the league. With the season approaching its final days, New York’s path to overtaking the Blue Jays hinges on both its own success and the Blue Jays’ ability to stumble, coupled with the Rays not gaining ground in the standings. The team did its part on this night, but the ultimate objective remains outside its control until the remaining schedule plays out.