The 5-2 victory in Toronto on Tuesday night gave the Yankees their 20th AL East championship, their first after 2019 and the third since 2012. This followed an epic celebration by the team led by power hitter Aaron Judge and star defender Harrison Bader.
The Yankees were assured of their eighth win in nine games after Jameson Taillon led the pitching with a good start and one of their stars of the night, Gleyber Torres, rose to the occasion with three RBIs. This was the team’s second AL East championship under the stewardship of their current manager Aaron Boone.
Aaron Judge was waiting to party once the game was over. As soon as the Yankees clinched the win, the slugger rushed into the visitor’s clubhouse to celebrate their Al East championship. While running there, he sounded out on a nearby camera, “Don’t pop ’em without me!”
The Yankees are still figuring out how to get the best of Harrison Bader. But as the team celebrated the AL East championship, the Bronxville native was caught in an impressive beer-chugging act.
In the Yankees’ locker room, YES cameras showed the 28-year-old star defender drinking three beers at the same time. The scene reminded many of WWE great “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s on-ring beer chuggings after his wins.
Tim Locastro, the backup outfielder, added the fourth drink to the mix later on.
Due to an injury, Gold Glove winner Bader has only appeared in seven games for the Yankees since being acquired from the Cardinals in a much-debated deal for pitcher Jordan Montgomery. He has a batting average of just .238 but has proven excellent defensive skills.
In October, the Yankees want to provide Bader with more playing time so that he may continue to demonstrate his talents both on the field and with a few alcoholic beverages. The party after AL East championship win is just a glimpse of what he can do for New York fans.
A visible happy manager Aaron Boone also joined the party.
With that, the Yankees popped champagne and celebrated a regular season that started off at a historic pace, went downhill with a brutal and long slump, and is now ending with a very strong September that made sure the team would get a bye in the ALDS and play at home.
How did you celebrate after the Yankees won the AL East championship?
