Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton Shine in Yankees’ Dominant Victory

In an electrifying display of power, Aaron Judge launched his 58th homer of the season, leading the big leagues and marking his fifth consecutive game with a home run. This performance helped the New York Yankees secure their second AL East championship in three years with a resounding 10-1 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.

Giancarlo Stanton added more power to the Yankees’ lineup, driving in four runs, including his 27th round-tripper of the year. Alex Verdugo also homered, while Gerrit Cole outdueled Corbin Burnes in a game that could be a sneak peek at the upcoming playoffs.

Judge and Stanton Equal Historic Yankees Record

On their 14th occasion this year, Judge and Stanton both homered in the same game, matching a Yankees record set by Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961. The victory ensured the Yankees a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AL Division Series, set to begin on October 5.

Reflecting on the team’s disappointment last year, Judge said, “We wanted to make a statement, come back here and put ourselves in a good position going into the postseason.”

Baltimore Orioles Set for Wild Card Series

Despite the loss, the Orioles remain playoff-bound, having clinched a postseason spot with a victory in the first game of the three-game series. Their journey will begin with a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.

Stanton’s home run in the second inning set the tone for the Yankees, and he would later contribute a three-run double in a six-run sixth. Judge’s two-run dinger in the seventh against Bryan Baker took his RBI tally to 144, the highest in the major leagues since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008. He also equaled his personal best by homering in five straight games.

Gerrit Cole: A Commanding Presence on the Mound

Making his final start before the playoffs, Cole (8-5) was in command, allowing just two hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking one, reducing his ERA to 3.41. Burnes (15-9) also had a solid outing, allowing only two hits in five innings with one walk and nine strikeouts. He is expected to start for the Orioles in their postseason opener on Tuesday.

Anticipating a Postseason Rematch

“We’re going to face them again. The only way I think we’re going to move on is (we) have to go through them,” Burnes said. “We played great against these guys in the regular season so there’s no reason why we can’t do it in the postseason.”

The Yankees continue to ride high on Stanton’s exceptional form. His 72 RBIs have come from a hot streak where he hit 6 for 18 with two doubles, two homers, and eight RBIs in his last five games. The Orioles, on the other hand, will look for a strong start from Cade Povich in their series opener at Minnesota on Friday, while the Yankees will rely on Carlos Rodón in their series opener against the Pirates.