Aaron Judge hit two of the five homers for the New York Yankees, who extended their lead in the fight for the American League wild card, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 on Thursday.
Venezuelan Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo also hit home runs off starter Robbie Ray (13-7). Brett Gardner added a solo homer for New York (91-68), which reduced his “magic number” to two games to secure postseason qualification.
The Yankees have the first wild-card ticket for now, with a two-game lead over Boston and Seattle (89-70). The Red Sox fell to bottom Baltimore on Thursday while the Mariners rested. Toronto is three games behind the Yankees.
New York has won eight of nine games, and will begin its last series of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays, champions of the American League East Division.
The Yankees will be somewhat decimated. Luke Voit, first baseman, was placed on the disabled list Thursday with a sore left knee, and infielder DJ LeMahieu was replaced in the bottom of the sixth inning with a sore right hip.
Michael King (2-4) resolved a scoreless inning and a third to take the victory as relief from Corey Kluber. Dominican Luis Severino solved the seventh inning perfectly, Chad Green struck out three in a row after accepting a double at the beginning of the eighth inning and Cuban Aroldis Chapman processed the ninth.
Associated Press
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