New York Yankees 5-4 Boston Red Sox
Aaron Judge broke his season’s longest home run slump with a clutch grand slam in the seventh inning, lifting the Yankees to a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. The star outfielder had endured 16 games and 75 plate appearances without a home run before launching the game-winning shot off Red Sox reliever Cam Booser.
Stretching the AL East Lead
The Yankees’ lead in the AL East expanded to three games over Baltimore, who suffered a shutout loss in Detroit. Baltimore’s failure to record a hit in 8 2/3 innings against the Tigers’ pitching staff was a significant setback. This marks the largest division lead for the Yankees since mid-June when they held a 3 1/2 game advantage before a losing streak derailed their momentum.
The Red Sox (74-74) faced an uphill battle, entering the night 4 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the final wild-card spot.
Mark Leiter Jr.‘s relief efforts, spanning 1 1/3 innings, proved crucial in securing the Yankees’ victory. Luke Weaver’s impressive performance, highlighted by five strikeouts in two scoreless innings, earned him his second career save.
Judge’s Grand Slam Electrifies Yankee Stadium
Aaron Judge sent Yankee Stadium into a frenzy with his eighth career grand slam, leading to a curtain call from an ecstatic crowd. His 52nd home run of the season further solidified his lead in both home runs and RBIs, underscoring his dominance at the plate.
Judge had been in the midst of a 16-game homerless stretch, with the grand slam being his first long ball since August 25. This drought was the longest of his career since winning the 2022 AL MVP.
Before the slump, Judge was on a power surge, hitting nine home runs over a span of 10 games.
Late Rally Falls Short Despite Judge’s Heroics
The New York Yankees found themselves in a tough spot against the Boston Red Sox, facing a surprising performance from Boston’s emergency starter, Richard Fitts. Called into action after Tanner Houck was scratched from the lineup due to right shoulder fatigue, Fitts managed to keep the Yankees quiet for five shutout innings.
The scoreless game was finally broken in the sixth when Masataka Yoshida launched a two-run homer, forcing Clarke Schmidt out of the game with two outs. Boston continued to build momentum in the seventh as Trevor Story, recently back from a long absence due to a dislocated shoulder, hit his first home run of the season—a two-run shot that extended the Red Sox lead to 4-0.
The Yankees, however, began to mount a rally in the seventh inning. Boston’s Zack Kelly struggled with control, walking the bottom two batters in New York’s lineup. Gleyber Torres took advantage, driving in a run with an RBI single. This led to a pitching change for Boston, but new reliever Booser walked Juan Soto on four pitches, loading the bases.
The Yankees Roster
Up Next
The Yankees are gearing up for a tough test on Saturday as they prepare to face Boston Red Sox ace Brayan Bello (13-7, 4.70 ERA). The right-hander has been a key force for the Red Sox this season. Gerrit Cole (6-4, 3.36 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees in what promises to be a pivotal matchup for New York.
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