Judge Does Not Get Closer, But Cole & Yanks Do In Win Over Sox

First, the bad news: Aaron Judge remains stuck on 60 home runs; and, because the game was on Apple+, most Yankee fans couldn't watch this game.

Now, the good news: Since Judge didn't hit his 61st home run of the season last night, Yankee Fans can now see it when it actually happens. And, more importantly, the Yankees won, beating the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, and got closer to clinching the American League Eastern Division title.

Alleged ace Gerrit Cole started last night. It was a typical game for him, as he gave up a solo home run in the 1st inning and a 3-run home run in the 6th, and was brilliant in between. The Yankees got a home run from Aaron Hicks in the 3rd, and an RBI single by Hicks and an RBI double by Gleyber Torres in the 5th. But the Alex Verdugo homer in the 6th tied the game at 4-4.

Cole struck out 8 batters. He now has 244 on the season, 4 short of Ron Guidry's single-season Yankee record. Barring injury, he will get 2 more starts. He will break the record. I almost don't want him to, because he's no Guidry.

Nothing like a 2-out rally. With 2 out in the bottom of the 8th, Harrison Bader drew a walk. Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you. Bader stole 2nd, and was singled home by Jose Trevino. Jonathan Loáisiga allowed 2 singles in the 9th, but got out of it to end the game. 

Yankees 5, Red Sox 4. WP: Loáisiga (5-4). No save. LP: Matt Strahm (3-4). It was the Yankees' 5th win in a row. The Tampa Bays beat the Toronto Blue Jays. They are now tied for 2nd in the AL East. The Yankees' Magic Number to eliminate each of them, and clinch the Division, is now 4.

The series continues this afternoon. Domingo Germán starts against Nick Pivetta.

Also, last night, my alma mater, East Brunswick High School in Central New jersey, lost to hated Old Bridge, 24-7. I guess it was too much to ask for two teams that I love to beat their arch-rivals in one night.