TORONTO — There was lastly one thing to rejoice Tuesday night time.
While Aaron Judge continues to be chasing historical past, he drew 4 walks and scored twice because the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 5-2 to clinch the American League East and the No. 2 seed within the American League playoffs.
It’s simply the second division title for the Yankees (95-59) within the final 10 seasons. They additionally received in Aaron Boone’s second season, 2019, after they superior to the AL Championship Series. The No. 2 seed additionally comes with a first-round bye underneath the brand new MLB playoff construction. The Blue Jays (87-68) are nonetheless taking part in to clinch an AL Wild Card berth.
While the Yankees needed to go a powerful 16-7 in September after a brutal 10-18 August, it was nonetheless just a little anticlimactic with Judge holding on 60 dwelling runs for the seventh straight sport. He is one shy of the long-lasting Yankee and American League regular-season report of 61. Instead of powering the Yankees Tuesday night time, Judge handed the baton. Gleyber Torres went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Aaron Hicks doubled in a run and Anthony Rizzo singled in one other. Kyle Higashioka additionally went 3-for-4.
And Jameson Taillon, after giving up a lead-off homer to George Springer, was devastatingly efficient, retiring 16 of the subsequent 17 batters he confronted. Springer singled off him within the backside of the sixth. He allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out six. For the thirteenth time in 31 begins, he didn’t situation a stroll.
The Blue Jays pitchers challenged Judge, who completed 1-for-2 Tuesday night time. He went to full counts in every of his 5 at-bats, falling behind 0-1 in his first 4.
In his first at-bat on Tuesday night time, Judge lined a ball proper into the glove of third baseman Matt Chapman. In the third inning, Judge got here to bat with Higashioka on base with one out. He fell behind 0-1, however labored an eight-pitch stroll because the Yankees started to rally. Rizzo’s floor ball received previous second baseman Whit Merrifield to attain Higashioka. Then, Judge scored on Torres’ single to heart discipline.
In the fifth, Judge led off with a six-pitch stroll and scored on one other Torres single. In the highest of the sixth, with one out and Hicks on second, the Blue Jays introduced in right-hander Zach Pop, who really received forward of him 0-2, earlier than Judge labored an eight-pitch stroll.
Judge has now gone 31 plate appearances since hitting No. 60 every week in the past in opposition to the Pirates. He’s had simply two streaks of 30-plus plate appearances with out a homer this season. There was a 41-plate look drought in August and one other 30-plate look drought in April. It is the second longest sport drought of the season for Judge, who went 9 video games with out a homer this season. He’s reached base safely in 15 of these 31 plate appearances with 13 walks.
And with a .314 batting common, Judge nonetheless holds a slender lead over Xander Bogaerts (.313) and Luis Arraez (.313). He is vying to be the primary Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera did it in 2012. Judge’s 128 RBI are 11 greater than Jose Ramirez’s for 117 for essentially the most within the AL.
Judge has simply three homers in 67 at-bats in opposition to the Blue Jays this season.
There is rather less stress on Judge right here on the Rogers Centre. With the Blue Jays seeking to clinch a playoff spot, the Yankees’ followers who traveled right here hoping to see historical past are outnumbered. Back within the Bronx final week, Judge heard roars each time he went to the plate and the venue went quiet as every pitch was delivered. Fans groaned each time he didn’t hit a homer — together with when he doubled. Monday night time, there have been boos when he was walked, nevertheless it was virtually regular when he struck out and Blue Jays followers went loopy.
Judge has been downplaying the extreme highlight on him.
“Well, nothing’s like Yankee Stadium. That’s for sure,” Judge stated. “I know the Roger Centre here gets pretty loud and pretty packed, but nothing like Yankee Stadium. But it felt just like a normal game. For me. That’s like the past couple days.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com