New York Yankees win, secure American League East crown as Aaron Judge stays at 60 homers

TORONTO — From a close to August collapse to a late September clinch.

What appeared predestined when the New York Yankees have been one of the best group in baseball within the first half of the season and seemed uncertain with their subpar play within the second half, was made official Tuesday evening. A 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays gave the Yankees their twentieth American League East title.

It’s the primary divisional pennant for New York since 2019, which was additionally the 12 months that Aaron Boone gained his first title as a supervisor.

“Really proud of the guys. It’s the toughest division to win … every team’s a battle,” Boone mentioned after Tuesday evening’s win at Rogers Centre. “You gotta pack a lunch, as I like to say, when you’re playing these teams. Especially at the start, probably most people picked a lot of other teams. We got off to a great start, obviously weathered the storm. These guys never really panicked or never lost that underlying confidence that even when we were going through some dark, tough times, that we were going to be able to get through it, and hopefully makes us stronger going forward.

“We’re going to rejoice tonight and get on with the enterprise of, clearly, we have greater objectives. We need to win a championship. That’s our acknowledged purpose. But tonight deserves to be celebrated within the gauntlet that’s the AL East.”

Gleyber Torres had three hits and three RBIs, and Aaron Judge walked four times in pursuit of his 61st home run in the victory. Batting out of the leadoff spot, Judge, who extended his homerless streak to seven games, finished 0-for-1 with two runs to go along with the four free passes.

“I’ll take 4 walks for a win each single day,” he said.

The Yankees, who at times appeared as if they’d run away from the AL pack before stumbling through August, held a 15 1/2 game divisional lead in July but saw it dwindle to 3 1/2 games in early September. Nonetheless, Judge said their belief in being AL East champions never faltered.

“What makes this group particular is that guys did not waver, they confirmed as much as work each single day proper to go on the market and assist us win,” he said. “When you bought a mindset like that for 26, 28 guys, something’s potential. I believe that little stretch we went by simply made us stronger and constructed our bond just a little nearer. … We knew this was coming nevertheless it’s solely the 1st step.”

That sentiment was echoed all throughout the clubhouse.

“We can say we’re one of the best group in one of the best division this 12 months, and it wasn’t straightforward,” Boone said. “We took everybody’s punches. It’s not straightforward going by the American League East, and survive and be the group. And I believe all of us perceive that that is the 1st step, and we need to win a championship, that is our purpose.”

The Yankees won for the eighth time in their past nine games, as Jameson Taillon pitched into the eighth inning en route to his 14th win of the season. Anthony Rizzo had two hits and an RBI, and Kyle Higashioka had three hits and scored two runs, supplying enough offense to clinch the division four days before the calendar turns to October.

Toronto, still seeking to secure the AL’s top wild-card berth, fell to 17-9 in September. George Springer finished 2-for-4 in the loss, with two runs and his 24th home run of the season. It was Springer’s 52nd career leadoff home run, one shy of tying Hall of Fame standout Craig Biggio (53) for third all time.

The win over Toronto secured the second seed in the AL, behind the Houston Astros, and a first-round bye for the Yankees.

“What a 12 months it has been thus far, we’re undoubtedly not carried out, however this can be a nice first step into the last word purpose of going on the market and profitable a World Series,” Judge said.

Asked whether he would give Judge a day off after capturing the divisional title, Boone said it would be something they would have to “kind out.” Including Tuesday night’s win, Judge has played in 48 consecutive games, his longest streak of the season after playing in 47 straight games from May 17 to July 6.

Judge, who remains one home run away from tying Roger Maris’ AL all-time mark, and the Yankees will close out the series Wednesday night in Toronto with ace Gerrit Cole on the mound. New York will return home to open a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.

And after tying his second-longest homerless drought this season, with seven games without leaving the yard, and with eight games left in the regular season, is Judge concerned?

“Not at all. … That’ll come,” he mentioned.