BOSTON — The New York Yankees secured their 82nd win of the season Friday night at Fenway Park, a 4-1 victory over the rival Boston Red Sox.
Judge opened the scoring in the first inning with a towering shot to deep center field. The drive traveled 468 feet and marked his 362nd career home run, moving him past Joe DiMaggio for sole possession of fourth place on the Yankees’ all-time list. This made Judge as Yankees top right-handed slugger to hit highest home runs in franchise history. He also set the MLB record for most (19) first inning home runs with 19.
Aaron Judge’s record-setting home run highlighted the night, but it was only one of several Yankees milestones that unfolded in enemy territory.
Gil sets franchise mark against Red Sox
While Judge claimed headlines, Luis Gil carved out history of his own on the mound. The 26-year-old right-hander carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and lowered his career ERA against Boston to 0.99 across five starts.
According to Baseball Reference’s Katie Sharp, that figure is the best by a Yankees pitcher through his first five starts against the Red Sox. Gil exited after six innings and 93 pitches without allowing a hit. Reliever Fernando Cruz later surrendered a solo home run to Nate Eaton in the seventh, ending the no-hit bid.
Gil, who won American League Rookie of the Year in 2024, improved to 4-1 this season. His dominance over the Red Sox reinforces the Yankees’ ability to contain their longtime rivals in crucial games.
Yankees extend streak of winning seasons
The win carried organizational significance as well. By reaching their 82nd victory, the Yankees locked in their 33rd straight winning season. That streak is the second-longest in Major League Baseball history and the second-longest across all four major North American sports leagues.
Only the Yankees’ own stretch of 39 consecutive winning seasons from 1926 through 1964 ranks higher. The club has not endured a losing record since 1992, when they finished 76-86.
Maintaining that consistency through ownership changes, managerial shifts, and roster turnover has underscored the organization’s enduring standard of excellence. Friday night’s win reinforced that tradition.
Judge and Stanton go deep together again
Judge’s milestone shot was not the only power display of the night. In the third inning, Giancarlo Stanton joined him with a home run of his own. It marked the 56th game in which both Judge and Stanton have homered, tying them with Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra as well as Atlanta’s Eddie Mathews and Joe Adcock for ninth-most in major league history.
The tandem trails only Ruth and Gehrig, who went deep in the same game 75 times. Judge and Stanton now sit second in Yankees history in that category, showing how their partnership has carried forward the Bronx Bombers’ long tradition of thunder in the middle of the lineup.
Since joining forces in 2018, Judge and Stanton have combined for some of the Yankees’ most memorable offensive nights, even as injuries have occasionally interrupted their run together.
Team home run mark matched
The Yankees’ lineup achieved another notable feat in Friday’s win. Judge’s long ball gave New York seven players with at least 20 home runs this season. That ties the franchise record, also set in 2009 and 2019.
The depth of power across the roster has been a defining feature of the 2025 club, offering support around stars like Judge and Stanton.
Judge, meanwhile, continues to solidify his place in Yankees lore. Ruth hit 659 of his 714 home runs in pinstripes, Mantle finished with 536, and Gehrig totaled 493. With 362, Judge now trails only those three icons.
Joe DiMaggio hit 361 home runs in 1,736 games. Judge reached 359 in just 1,127 games before adding his record-breaking shot at Fenway.
Playoff race tightens after Fenway win
The victory was more than symbolic. By beating Boston, the Yankees extended their lead over the Red Sox to 1½ games in the American League wild-card standings. That edge could be crucial in determining home-field advantage should the two rivals meet in the postseason’s opening round.
New York remains three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East lead with 15 games left to play. Every win has outsized importance as the Yankees balance the pursuit of the division title with holding off challengers for wild-card positioning.
Friday’s game showed how individual achievements can dovetail with team success. Judge’s home run provided early momentum, while Gil’s dominance kept the Red Sox quiet until Cruz yielded Eaton’s blast.
The combination of milestones and team impact gave the Yankees one of their most memorable victories of the season.
A night of milestones with bigger goals ahead
The Yankees left Fenway Park with far more than just another tally in the win column. Judge passed DiMaggio on the home run list. Gil etched his name in franchise history against Boston. Stanton and Judge went deep together again.
And the team secured a winning record for the 33rd straight year.
It was a night where history, both individual and collective, unfolded in stages. The Yankees’ focus remains fixed on October, but their milestone parade in Boston was another reminder of the franchise’s unique place in baseball.
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