After failing to close the deal in games one and two of the series against the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees captured the American League East crown with their bats Thursday night. The Yankees 10-1 drubbing of the Orioles was punctuated with home runs by Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Alex Verdugo.
Gerrit Cole silenced the O’s bats over 6.2 innings pitched, allowing just three Orioles to reach base on two hits and one walk. The sole Orioles’ run came off Tim Hill in the ninth inning once the game had long been decided. How will New York fare in the MLB Playoffs this year?
Yankees Bats Erupt in the Sixth
The game could have been described as a pitchers’ duel for the first five innings. The only run through five innings was a solo shot by Stanton off Corbin Burnes in the second inning. Anthony Volpe struck out swinging to lead off the sixth. But then Juan Soto singled, and Judge walked to load the bases. The avalanche that ensued would drive Burnes from the game and ensure that the Yankees would hoist another AL East banner, their 21st in team history. Six runners in total would cross the plate and the game was never again in doubt.
Judge also continued his tremendous 2024 season by slugging his 58th home run. It was his fifth straight game with a round-tripper. With Judge’s status for the final three games of the season up in the air, he has seemingly punctuated another MVP season.
One More Goal For The Yankees
With three games to play in the regular season, the Yankees’ record stands at 93-66. The Cleveland Guardians record is 92-67, one game behind New York in the American League. If the Yanks can remain ahead of the Guardians over the weekend, every series in the postseason will start in The Bronx. Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is the last goal of the 2024 MLB regular season for the “Bronx Bombers” and New York is on the cusp of that.
The Yankees will host the 74-85 Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Guardians have a bit more difficult task at hand, hosting the 86-73 Houston Astros. However, the Astros did clinch the AL West and may not play all their starters.
Yankees May Face Paul Skenes
Friday night the Yankees will send Carlos Rodon to the mound to face Jared Jones for the Pirates. At this point, the Saturday and Sunday pitchers are TBD, so it’s unclear if the New York bats will face rookie phenom Paul Skenes. The Pirates have nothing to play for but pride and, depending on the outcome of the Friday games in New York and Cleveland, the Yankees may have little to play for on Saturday and Sunday. New York has had a great regular season and is aiming for their first World Series championship since 2009.
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