NEW YORK — As October looms, the Yankees huddled briefly in the center of their clubhouse late Thursday, a quick reminder of what’s at stake heading into their final regular-season series. The instructions were blunt and clear: “Take care of business, celebrate, then do it again.”
They carried that message into Friday, when Aaron Judge paid a timely visit to Monument Park, launching a third-inning home run that restored the Yankees’ early lead — another mark in the reigning American League MVP’s favor as he pursues a third award in four years.
Giancarlo Stanton then one-upped his teammate with his second homer of the game, a jaw-dropping 451-foot blast that cleared the loading dock in left-center field — an area of Yankee Stadium few ever reach. The power show carried New York to an 8-4 victory over the Orioles, their sixth consecutive win.
“I do what I can with pitches out over the plate,” Stanton said. “As long as it goes over the fence, that’s what matters.”
The Yankees (92-68) remain even with the Blue Jays atop the American League East, as Toronto’s 4-2 win over the Rays preserved the deadlock with two games remaining. The Jays hold the tiebreaker. Also, the AL East winner will be assured the top seed in the American League.
“If we go get these three games, then we’ve done all that we can do,” right-hander Will Warren said. “Everything else is out of our control.”
Trevor Rogers presented a stiff challenge, having blanked New York over six innings just last week in Baltimore. The lefty had permitted three home runs in 106 2/3 innings coming into Friday’s start, and the Yanks matched that total in three innings, beginning with Stanton’s two-run shot in the first.
That marked the Yankees’ 48th first-inning homer of the season, establishing a Major League record. The 2023 Braves (47) held the mark previously.
Warren cruised until Coby Mayo reached on a checked-swing infield hit with two outs in the third inning. A walk followed, and Jordan Westburg drove an 0-2 sweeper just over the left-field wall for a three-run homer.
Judge responded in the home half with a two-run shot, his 52nd homer of the season.
“Nothing Aaron Judge does surprises me,” manager Aaron Boone said. “To me, he’s the clear-cut MVP. … I don’t put anything past [No.] 99. He’s playing like an all-time great.”
Stanton’s blast two batters later was the 452nd of his career, tying Carl Yastrzemski for 40th place all-time. It marked the 58th time Judge and Stanton have homered in the same game (including postseason).
“Don’t get me wrong, he hit it great — but that’s not all of it, either,” Boone said. “That’s a good, healthy fly ball to center for us regular people. He stood on it right away. What he and Aaron do, and the way they can hit the ball, it’s different.”
Despite not making his season debut until June 16 due to tennis elbow in both arms, Stanton has tallied 23 homers and 64 RBIs in 75 games, including 11 homers in his last 31 games (since Aug. 19).
“I think it’s been effective, efficient — and not over,” Stanton said. “So I’ve still got to do more.”
Warren allowed four runs over five-plus innings, walking one and striking out seven. Having wrapped his campaign with a 9-8 record and 4.44 ERA in 33 starts, the 26-year-old is curious to see how he is used in the postseason, vying with Cam Schlittler and Luis Gil for starting nods.
“Ultimately, I just want to win,” Warren said. “I’m willing to do whatever, however that looks. I’ll take it and run with it.”
Five relievers handled the final four innings, including Tim Hill, who pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. Camilo Doval struck out the side in the eighth before David Bednar wrapped up.
“We’re like brothers back there,” Doval said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “There’s a lot of support for one another. You have the guys telling you, ‘Great job there.’ To hear words like that from your teammates, it gives you confidence to come back the next day and be effective.”
That camaraderie fed into another late-night clubhouse circle-up: handshakes, the presentation of a game belt and ball, then words that largely echoed the previous night: “Take care of business, celebrate, then do it again.”
Or, as Stanton described the team’s mindset: “Win every day. Keep it simple; don’t try to do too much, really. One pitch, one out at a time.”
