September 26, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) hits a solo home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Aaron Judge hit his major-league-leading 58th home run for the fifth straight game on Thursday, helping the host New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-1 for the American League East title.
The Yankees (93-66) won their second division title in three seasons and third in seven seasons under manager Aaron Boone with three games remaining. The title was sealed in 3 games.
New York also clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs and will open a best-of-five division series on October 5. Best record in the league.
Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in four runs for the Yankees, who scored nine runs against the Baltimore bullpen.
New York ace Gerrit Cole (8-5) allowed two hits, both singles, in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out five, walked one, and received a standing ovation.
Cole didn't allow a hit until Ramon Urias' single to right field with two outs in the fifth inning. He allowed a single to James McCann in the sixth, but ended the inning by fanning Anthony Santander with a 98 mph fastball to preserve a 1-0 lead.
Judge tied his longest home run streak (also set in 2020) with a two-run double against Bryan Baker with one out in the seventh to make it 9-9. 0 lead.
Stanton hit a slider from Baltimore ace Corbin Burns (15-9) into the left-field seats in the second to give Cole a 1-0 lead.
Stanton hit a three-run double in center field on a Cionel Perez fastball to extend the lead to 5-0 in the sixth. Stanton's double came after Austin Wells issued a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth inning.
Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run double over the right field wall against Baker to extend New York's lead to 7-0.
New York's Alex Verdugo hit a home run in the eighth inning after coming on as a defensive replacement in left field.
Burns allowed one run on two hits in five innings. He struck out nine and walked one and was eliminated after 69 pitches to preserve Baltimore's best-of-three playoff wild-card opener on Tuesday.
Emmanuel Rivera had a bases sacrifice fly in the ninth inning for the Orioles before Cedric Mullins grounded out.
The Orioles (88-71) are three games ahead of the Kansas City Royals (85-74) and Detroit Tigers (85-74) in the wild-card round with three games remaining.
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