Yankees win AL East title with 10-1 victory over Orioles behind Judge, Stanton and Cole

Aaron Judge, adorned with white and gold bottles of Luc Belaire Rare Luxe sparkling wine cascading down his 6-foot-7 stature, savored the moment.

“Nothing is ever guaranteed,” remarked the captain of the New York Yankees.

Judge achieved his major league-leading 58th home run, marking his fifth consecutive game with a home run, contributing to the Yankees' decisive 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night, thereby securing the AL East title with three games remaining in the season.

This achievement stands in stark contrast to the team's disappointing performance in 2023, which culminated in an 82-80 record, nearly resulting in the franchise's first losing season since 1992.

“Falling short last year was painful,” Judge expressed. “It stings just like any other year when you do not win a World Series, but that particular year hurt a bit more. Therefore, we aimed to make a statement, returning here to position ourselves favorably for the postseason.”

Following their 21st division title, which includes the first half of the 1981 split season, the Yankees (93-66) are set to commence their 59th postseason at home on October 5, facing the winner of next week’s wild-card round in a best-of-five Division Series.

Last year marked the Yankees' first absence from the playoffs since 2016, the year Judge made his major league debut in mid-August.

Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gerrit Cole are acutely aware that the New York Yankees are evaluated not merely by their division titles but by their World Series championships, akin to the ten won by Yogi Berra, nine by Joe DiMaggio, and five by Derek Jeter.

They donned T-shirts emblazoned with the bold statement: “We own the East,” with “American League” displayed in smaller letters in the center. However, to secure their 28th World Series title and their first since 2009, they must achieve three additional victories.

Manager Aaron Boone limited his remarks in the clubhouse following the game.

“I shared a few thoughts, and then they were eager to start the celebration,” he recounted.

After a season marked by fluctuations, the Yankees secured at least a wild-card position on September 18 and celebrated with a raucous gathering in Seattle. The team boasted a record of 50-22 in mid-June but struggled with a 30-38 record until early September, ultimately winning 13 of their last 19 games.

“You cannot take this for granted,” Stanton emphasized. “It is certainly expected, but considering last year, it did not materialize. Therefore, it is essential to appreciate this moment. We are here now. Enjoy it. You never know when another opportunity may arise.”

Upon returning home this week, the Yankees required just one victory to clinch the AL East title but suffered consecutive losses to the second-place Baltimore Orioles (88-71), delaying their celebration. The Yankees ended the Orioles’ one-year dominance in the division, leaving them with a wild-card spot.

“I don’t believe we were the favorites, to be honest,” Boone remarked. “That is understandable. Given our performance last year, we had much to prove.”

Judge raised his RBI total to 144, the highest in Major League Baseball since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008. Stanton recorded his 27th home run and contributed four RBIs, while Cole delivered an impressive 6 2/3 innings of two-hit pitching, outmatching Corbin Burnes (15-9) in a duel between Cy Young Award winners.

Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young Award recipient, did not make his first start of the season until June 19 due to nerve irritation and edema in his throwing elbow, which had kept him sidelined since spring training. He concluded the season with an 8-5 record and a 3.4 ERA.