After a nail-biting two-day wait, the New York Yankees have finally clinched the American League East title. But the roadblocks to claiming this win weren’t just the missed chances this season – the journey to the top has been a long one, tracing back to 2023, as per Aaron Judge. The Yankees endured a rough fourth-place finish that Brian Cashman labeled a “disaster”; fast forward to Thursday, and the Bronx Bombers have soared back to the summit of the AL East, right in their home stadium. Looking at the 2024 season, their gameplay has been solid overall. There’s been ups and downs, but the vibe is mostly positive. Any guesses how?

As per the New York post, Aaron Judge, all drenched in champagne, had the perfect words to sum up this victory, and what went behind it: “This team was hungry. It goes back to not making the playoffs last year. That was just enough fuel for this team.” And they did deliver – the Yankees (93-66) didn’t just clinch the division; they also seized a lead over the Orioles (88-71) to solid five games. Beating their division rivals, it’s easy to see why Judge was riding that wave of excitement a bit more than everyone else.

In the 2023 season, Aaron Judge‘s injury derailed the Yankees’ playoff train, but he’s soaring high this year. And now that he got the title, Judge was more than happy; he wasn’t alone—42,022 Bronx fans packed the stands, screaming their hearts out as the team finally hit their goal. With this win, the chase for the franchise’s 28th championship—and the first since 2009—is officially on. But the race is far from being over, with The ALDS kicking off next Saturday at the Stadium against the wild-card round winner.

The New York Yankees are gearing up for a big weekend as they face off against the Pirates in their final regular-season series. Their goal? Snagging that coveted top seed in the AL for home-field advantage throughout the ALCS. Just two wins or a few losses from the Guardians will do the trick; wile that’s in the works, it’s time for the Yankees to kick back and savor the thrilling gameplay from Game 159.

Aaron Judge adds to the Bronx Bombers thrilling gameplay on Thursday

While the Yankees were soaking in their division clincher, it’s clear that this success was a team effort. Speaking of standout performances, Yankees’ superstar Aaron Judge just homered in his fifth straight game. With five home runs in five games and marking his 58th home run of the season, Judge is currently just two homers away from hitting that magical 60 mark. The captain has been exceptional all season, and Thursday was no different; it wasn’t just him – the entire team came together.

Giancarlo Stanton got things rolling with a bang, racking up four RBIs from a home run and a double and collecting two hits for the Yankees. On the mound, Gerrit Cole dazzled, tossing 6 2/3 shutout innings and surrendering just two singles and a walk while striking out five, which earned him a standing ovation. The Yankees really turned up the heat in the sixth and seventh innings as Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single to cap off the rally. Moreover, Judge launched a two-run moonshot, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

While the Bronx Bombers did their part, the Orioles didn’t hand over the division title without a fight. Both teams had been neck-and-neck atop the AL East for most of the season, and the Yankees only gained some breathing room in the last weeks. But the Orioles made them sweat a little longer, naming the first two games of the series in their name. While the series tilted in favor of the Yankees, it’s not over yet – there’s still work to be done to clinch the top spot in the AL.

Will the Yankees rise to the occasion? What’s your take? Drop your thoughts in the comments.