Last night, the Yankees blew out the Orioles 10-1 to clinch their third AL East division title since 2019. It was a team effort, runs coming from all different directions. Aaron Judge extended his HR streak to five games, with Verdugo and Stanton (4 RBIs) adding in homers of their own. Yank’s ace Gerrit Cole pitched 6.2 solid innings, allowing just 2 hits and no earned runs.
“It took us long enough, this team was hungry. It goes back to not making the playoffs last year. That was just enough fuel for this team to go out and say hey, we gotta make some changes, we gotta do better,” team captain Aaron Judge said postgame.
Yankee’s manager also chimed in saying, “It means a lot, I feel like we’ve been through a lot as a team already this year, so I’d like to think we’re battle-tested for what’s ahead. But really excited for these guys that have persevered through a lot of moments in the season. So a long way to go, but I know we’ll enjoy this right now.”
The Yankees W clinched not only the division but a first-round bye in the postseason. But they are not done yet. The Bronx Bomber’s final series will be at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates, if New York can take two of those games they will solidify themselves as the number one team in the American League. Getting the number one seed would give them home-field advantage through the ALCS.
In all likelihood, the Yankees will face the winner of the Orioles/Royals series in the ALDS which would start October 5th.