Aaron Judge’s first postseason home run puts Yankees in control of American League Championship series

The New York Yankees move a step closer to their first World Series berth since 2009 behind Aaron Judge’s first home run of the postseason.

The Yankees jump out to a 3-0 lead behind a dropped popup from Aaron Judge which scores Gelyber Torres in the bottom of the first. Before a Alex Verdugo RBI double and Aaron Judge sacrifice-fly makes it 3-0 after the bottom of the second. 

Gerrit Cole starts well for the Yankees, however, collapses somewhat in the top of the 5th. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 4th, Cole allows two earned runs in the 5th as he loads the bases and allows Josh Naylor to score on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Aaron Boone then takes Cole out but Will Brennan drives in Kyle Manzardo off the pitching of Clay Holmes, making it a 3-2 game. 

In the bottom of the 6th, the Yankees put runners on first and second with Jazz Chisholm’s double due to an error on the Guardians' defense. Anthony Volpe then walks before Chisholm is thrown out at second trying to steal third. However, Anthony Rizzo’s base hit allows Volpe to score on another fielding error too, giving New York a 4-2 lead. 

Then, in the bottom of the 7th, the moment all Yankees fans have been waiting for arrives as Aaron Judge launches his first home run of the 2024 playoffs with a two-run shot to center-field, the Yankees going out to a 6-2 lead as a result. 

In the top of the 9th, Yankees closer Luke Weaver gives up his first earned run of the 2024 postseason as José Ramírez hits a solo bomb to give the Guardians hope at 6-3, however, Weaver shuts the game down to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series. 

Despite the defeat, Steven Kwan’s hit means he leads all the American League players thi postseason with 13. Brayan Rocchio also extends his hitting streak to seven games. 

The series now switches to Cleveland after a travel day with Game 3 on October 17 with first pitch at 5:08.