You can’t blame Carlos Rodón for becoming a ‘fanboy’ when his teammates jump the fences.
Aaron Judge hit his 54th home run of the season, tying him for the most in the Major Leagues. Giancarlo Stanton had a three-run drive and Anthony Volpe also hit a homer to help the New York Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 10-0 on Saturday night.
“It’s fun to watch. You’re kind of a fan at that point, even though I’m still pitching,” Rodón said. “But just a little fanboy watching the guys hit homers.”
The Yankees tied their single-season record by taking a five-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East with seven games remaining, giving Aaron Boone his 600th career victory.
New York isn’t ready to celebrate yet.
“We’re in a great position,” Stanton said. “The number is three now, so we still have work to do.”
Rodón (16-9) struck out four and hit one, allowing five hits in six innings. He won his second straight start and continued his career-high win total.
The A’s drew 33,198 fans on a night when they scheduled a post-game drone and fireworks show for the club’s final home game before moving to Sacramento for the next three seasons, then to Las Vegas in 2028. Oakland has lost four straight games at the Coliseum with four more remaining on the schedule.
New York jumped on A’s left-handed starter JP Sears (11-12) with back-to-back singles to start the game by Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto. A walk to Judge loaded the bases. Stanton’s double-play ball brought in the first run and Jasson Domínguez added an RBI single.
Sears struck out six, but allowed six runs on nine hits in five innings.
The Yankees are now 44-4, including the postseason when Judge and Stanton homered in the same game.
SENTIMENTAL JUDGE
Judge is so appreciative of the Oakland Coliseum and his own history here. He was born and raised in the California Central Valley town of Linden.
“When I look back to the first ballpark I stepped into and was considered a Yankee after I got drafted, it was coming here for a little workout in 2013,” Judge recalled. “And even looking back to taking my girlfriend at the time, who’s now my wife, to a Yankees-A’s game — which is so funny — when I was in high school, it’s come full circle. I’m definitely going to miss coming here because of the support of the fans, the community that’s here, it feels like home.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: INF DJ LeMahieu has begun some light movement and has been hitting off a tee recently as he resumes some baseball activities while recovering from a right hip impingement. Boone said he expects to learn more about LeMahieu’s chances of returning this season once the club gets back home. … 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr. had the night off before the afternoon series finale. Boone wanted to give Jon Berti a game, so the timing worked out well. Anthony Rizzo also rested as Oswaldo Cabrera got a start at first base. … Soto returned to the starting lineup as the second batter, playing right field a day after being scratched after injuring his left leg Thursday when he slid into a wall to make a catch. He had a pinch-hit RBI double in the 10th inning of Friday’s 4-2 victory.
Athletics: RHP Ross Stripling tested his back injury by pitching out of the bullpen and is scheduled to face batters Tuesday. There is a chance he could return to pitch as early as the final weekend of the season.
NEXT
RHP Luis Gil (14-6, 3.14 ERA) takes the mound in the Yankees’ final game at Oakland on Sunday, facing RHP Joey Estes (7-8, 4.78), who has a 9.26 ERA in his last three starts.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
