Yankees, Led By Cole, Clinch AL East

 

Gerrit Cole fires one in on clinch night. @Yankees.

The Yankees clinched the American League East on Thursday night, with a stirring 10-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, powered by big performances from Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton.

This is the Yankees' second division title in the past three seasons, and 21st in team history since the Divisional Era that began in 1969. It is the most in the American League, and third-most in all of baseball, behind the Atlanta Braves, who have 23, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who clinched their 22nd division crown when they won the National League West on Thursday night.

This is the Yankees' seventh postseason appearance in the past eight seasons, dating back to 2017, which was Aaron Judge's rookie year. They are one of three teams to do that, along with the Dodgers (eight) and Houston Astros (eight). 

 It is their 25th appearance in the past 30 years, most in the Major Leagues, going back to 1995, the year before they won the first of their four World Series championships in the late 1990s, 

It will mark the 59th playoff appearance in the Yankees' 122nd season, which is the most for any franchise in baseball history.

The Orioles took the first two games of the series, but they ran into the Yankees' ace, Cole, and he did what he is meant to do, as he threw 6 2/3 shutout innings.

Cole allowed just two hits and a walk, while striking out five, and improved to 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA (earned run average).

Giancarlo Stanton gave the Yankees an early lead when he hit a solo shot off Corbin Burnes in the second inning, the 27th home run of the season for #27.

Since the game did not mean all that much for Baltimore, who clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday night, Burnes only went five innings, in which he allowed that one run on two hits and a walk, with nine strikeouts, and threw just 69 pitches.

The Orioles turned it over to their bullpen in the sixth inning, and the Yankees went to work against Yennier Cano, who issued a one-out walk to Gleyber Torres, gave up a single to Juan Soto, and walked Aaron Judge to load the bases.

In came Cionel Perez, and he walked Austin Wells to force in a run. Then, Stanton had the big blow, a three-run double to open up a 5-0 lead. 

Then, with Bryan Baker on for Baltimore and two outs in the inning, Jasson Dominguez walked and stole second base before Anthony Rizzo laced a two-run single to make it a 7-0 Yankee lead with six runs in the sixth inning.

Baker remained in for the seventh, and Soto reached on an error by Gunnar Henderson before Judge crushed one to left-center field for a two-run bomb that made it 9-0. 

That was #58 on the season for Judge, meaning he needs two in the three-game weekend series against the Pirates to hit the 60-home run plateau.

This is the Yankees' second AL East title in three seasons, and a bounce-back after they missed the postseason last year.

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone was asked on Wednesday what was the reason for the turnaround by the Yankees this season, and he said, "I think we're better. I think we're better top to bottom rosterwise. I think we've had better fortune from the health standpoint, for the most part. Our starting rotation, start with that, has, for the most part, gone to the post for us, and been able to, you know - obviously, losing Gerrit to start the year, Luis (Gil) steps up and takes advantage of the opportunity, and we've really had a pretty consistent group run through our rotation, you know, coupled with, obviously, bringing in Juan, and Juan and Aaron doing what they are. 

"We've had better health with Giancarlo over the long haul. We've had the emergence of some young guys from our system come up, in Austin Wells and Luis Gil, and so, and then we've had a couple of good surprises, especially in the second half, with some of the bullpen pieces, so just overall, I think we've been a much better club."