Aaron Judge’s power fuels Yankees’ surge
The Yankees played the third game of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on the road last night in trying to complete a sweep. They were also looking to extend their overall winning streak to five games and had been on the plus side with eight of their previous 12.
The Yankees began the day at 34-23, in third place in the American League East, five games behind division-leading Tampa Bay Rays at 39-18, and trailing the second-place Baltimore Orioles (35-20) by two. Manager Aaron Boone’s offense had produced 10 runs in their games before last night, defeating the San Diego Padres on Sunday 10-7, and the Mariners 10-4 on Monday and by 10-2 Tuesday.
“It’s no small feat to throw up 10 more runs against that quality of a pitching staff,” said Boone. “Credit to these guys. They’re focused, they’re working. They’re communicating well and they’re convicted in their plans right now. It’s showing itself.”
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who plays infield and outfield but started Tuesday in left field, had four hits and four RBIs in five at-bats, and Nestor Cortes earned his fifth win (5-2, 5.16 ERA) in 11 starts. But even with Kiner-Falefa’s superlative performance, it was reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge who garnered much of the attention by hitting his 18th home run of this season after hitting two on Monday to open the Yankees six-game West Coast trip.
The Yanks will start a three-game weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow and return to the Bronx to host the Chicago White Sox Tuesday–Thursday.
The Mets conclude a three-game series at home at Citi Field against the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon and begin a three-game set versus the Toronto Blue Jays in Queens tomorrow.
The Mets were 28-27 and tied for second place in the NL East with the Miami Marlins before playing the Phillies last night. The Atlanta Braves led the division with a mark of 32-23 and will host the Mets next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
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