NEW YORK — The New York Yankees delivered exactly the kind of performance Aaron Boone predicted when he defended his struggling lineup just days earlier.
Aaron Judge broke a nearly three-week homer drought, Giancarlo Stanton collected his first four-hit game in almost two years, and Anthony Volpe provided the decisive blow as the Yankees demolished the Minnesota Twins 9-1 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Carlos Rodon (12-7) allowed one hit in seven innings, a leadoff single to Austin Martin, and cruised after a 31-pitch first. He became the first Yankee to complete seven innings since the left-hander pitched eight against the Cubs on July 11.
The victory marked the Yankees’ second consecutive win over Minnesota and improved their record to 64-56, maintaining their one-game lead over Cleveland for the third American League wild card spot.
Judge breaks out of slump with opposite-field blast
NYY@X
Judge homered for the first time since July 23 when he hit a drive off Minnesota rookie starter Travis Adams (1-2). The 425-foot shot to the opposite field marked his 38th home run of the season and first since returning from the injured list with a right elbow flexor strain.
“Ever since he’s come back, he’s just been dialed in,” Judge said of Stanton’s recent hot streak.
The captain’s return to form couldn’t have come at a better time for a Yankees team desperately needing production from their lineup after a sluggish series against Houston.
Stanton’s career night powers Yankees offense
Stanton went 4 for 5 for his first four-hit game since Aug. 24, 2023, against Washington. He doubled in his first at-bat, homered in the fifth and singled in his final two at-bats before getting lifted for a pinch runner following a two-run single.
The veteran slugger’s mammoth 447-foot solo homer in the fifth inning gave the Yankees a 5-1 lead and marked his 12th home run in 30 games. Stanton has been playing right field for the first time since 2023 to accommodate Judge’s designated hitter role while recovering from his elbow injury.
“I feel good. Putting together good at-bats, the timing’s there, so just got to take advantage of mistakes,” Stanton said.
Stanton added a homer in the fifth to give the Yankees a 5-1 lead. It was the second time this season Stanton and Judge connected in the same game and 54th time overall, including the playoffs.
When both sluggers homer in the same game, the Yankees are historically dominant with a 47-7 record in such contests.
Volpe delivers knockout punch
Anthony Volpe hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the second as the Yankees beat the Twins for the ninth straight time. The young shortstop’s 18th homer of the season broke a 1-1 tie after Adams had walked the previous two batters.
The three-run blast gave the Yankees breathing room they wouldn’t relinquish, setting the tone for their most complete offensive performance in weeks.
Rodon rebounds from early trouble
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
The left-hander faced immediate adversity when he loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning, allowing Minnesota to score on a Royce Lewis groundout. But Rodón showed remarkable composure, striking out Kody Clemens to escape further damage.
“It’s one of those, is he going to get out of the first inning, that’s where your mind is for a minute,” Boone said.
Rodón loaded the bases when he hit Ryan Jeffers and allowed a run on a ground ball by Royce Lewis in the first. He ended the inning by retiring Kody Clemens and permitted one runner the rest of the way.
After throwing 31 pitches in the opening frame, Rodón settled into a groove and retired 17 consecutive batters at one point. He finished with 96 pitches over seven innings, striking out five while walking two.
“I thought he looked a lot different really in the second inning,” Boone added. “The [pitch] profiles started to be more in line with what he is.”
Series momentum building
The Yankees won their third series since the All-Star break and won the first two games of a series for the first time since sweeping Seattle July 8-10.
The convincing victory followed Monday’s 6-2 win over Minnesota, giving the Yankees consecutive victories for the first time in August. With 42 games remaining in the regular season, the team appears to be finding its rhythm at a crucial time.
“We have, what, 42 games left?” Rodón said. “So it’s definitely go-time. Just win every game you can.”
Twins struggles continue
Adams allowed four runs and four hits in 2 1/3 innings. The rookie starter faced 22 hitters and retired only seven of them as the trade deadline-depleted Twins struggled to contain the Yankees’ rejuvenated offense.
Minnesota’s woes against New York are well-documented, with the Twins now 0-9 in their last nine games against the Yankees. The franchise has become something of a personal punching bag for the Bronx Bombers, losing 125 of 169 games since 2002.
Wednesday finale set
The Yankees will attempt to complete their first sweep since taking three from Seattle in July when they face the Twins in Wednesday’s series finale. New York rookie RHP Cam Schlittler (1-2, 4.38 ERA) is scheduled to face Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (11-5, 2.79).
“A solid two games,” Stanton said. “A sweep would be even better.”
For a Yankees team that has endured a frustrating summer, Tuesday’s offensive explosion provided a glimpse of their potential when healthy. If Judge and Stanton can maintain this level of production while Volpe continues developing, the Yankees may yet make noise in the postseason race.
The victory improved New York to 64-56, keeping them in the hunt for October baseball with six weeks remaining in the regular season.
