Aaron Judge was in the spotlight yet again last night. The Yankees’ captain, known for his towering home runs and commanding presence, appeared blissfully unaware of his ongoing homer drought. With a mischievous grin, Judge revealed he hadn’t even noticed it had been 16 games since his last blast over the fence. The slugger seemed more focused on his next at-bat than the growing chatter about his elusive power surge.

On Friday night, Aaron Judge shattered the longest home run drought of his career with a thunderous grand slam. It lifted the New York Yankees to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. After enduring a 16-game, 75-plate appearance slump, Judge delivered a clutch shot that sailed into the lower left-field seats off reliever Cam Booser. As the ball cleared the fence, it not only broke his personal dry spell but also ignited the Yankee Stadium crowd and handed the Yankees a decisive lead in the seventh inning. 

Aaron Judge’s Grand Slam steals the show

Aaron Judge chose the perfect moment to reclaim his swing, smashing a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning off left-hander Cam Booser. It was his 52nd homer of the season, leading the Major Leagues, and his second grand slam of the year. The shot electrified Yankee Stadium, sending the crowd of 45,292 into an ecstatic frenzy as jubilant players in the dugout leaped and danced in celebration. The 6-foot-7 outfielder couldn’t resist the call of the moment, emerging from the dugout for a roaring curtain call that had fans and teammates alike reveling in the spectacle. “I was in the training room, but, I mean, I was going crazy. Anybody who was in the general vicinity of the training room definitely heard me. I don’t think there was anybody who wasn’t going crazy on this side, even in the stands,” Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt said. “Words can’t describe how cool that was. Such a special moment,” he added. 

Before hitting the dry spell, Aaron Judge was a powerhouse, mashing nine homers in just 10 games. But as of Thursday night, his career-long homerless streak had stretched to 16 games, a frustrating twist in an otherwise stellar season. The Yankees’ slugger had set a new personal low with the drought, a stark contrast to the explosive form he had shown earlier. But as the old adage goes, form is temporary, class is permanent—Judge’s grand slam on Friday night proved just that, reminding everyone why he’s the reigning AL MVP and one of the game’s most feared hitters. With a series of dramatic walk-offs and a clutch grand slam, the Yankees are sparking a buzz of excitement in the Bronx. After three straight victories, including a stunning grand slam that broke Aaron Judge’s homer drought, the Yanks have surged to a three-game lead over the Orioles in the American League East—their biggest division lead since June 14. Now, the question remains…

Was this the New York Yankees’ best game this season?

Was this the Yankees‘ best game of the season? Let’s break down why it might just be the case. Aaron Judge’s electrifying grand slam, which not only ended his homer drought but also prompted a roaring curtain call from the crowd, and the thrilling final out of Luke Weaver’s scoreless two-inning save—the game wasn’t short of any spectacular moments to cheer for. Now, with the Yankees actively searching for their next closer, Weaver’s performance could be a game-changer, hinting he might be stepping up to fill that crucial role. Not only that, but another standout performance from Clarke Schmidt has him making a compelling case for a spot in the postseason rotation. 

On Friday night, Schmidt delivered a solid outing, allowing just two runs over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five, walked one, and gave up five hits, including a two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida. While Schmidt was outperformed by Richard Fitts—who pitched five scoreless innings for Boston—his effort was still noteworthy. The matchup had a touch of irony as well, as Fitts was part of the trade that brought Alex Verdugo to the Bombers last offseason. Despite the loss in this personal duel, Schmidt’s performance continues to bolster his chances for October. 

The Yankees have now stretched their lead in the AL East to three games over the second-place Baltimore Orioles, marking their largest division cushion since June. With a record of 86-62, the team not only holds the top spot in the AL but also boasts the third-best record in all of MLB. As the season winds down with 14 games remaining, the Yankees are in a prime position to solidify their standing and make a strong push toward the postseason.