New York's Run For The American League East Title Ends Despite Aaron Judge's Efforts

The 6"7 282 pounds rookie right -fielder Aaron Judge did everything in his power to help New York try to win the division title as they fought the whole way to the final weekend of the regular season but in the end it wasn't enough as Boston is the division champion for 2017.

 Aaron Judge eclipsed Babe Ruth's 96-year-old record for the most round-trippers hit at home by a Yankees player, and CC Sabathia walked off to a standing ovation on Saturday at Yankee Stadium as New York defeated the Blue Jays, 2-1, in its penultimate game of the regular season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

Judge's 484-foot blast, according to Statcast™, off Marcus Stroman was his American League-leading 52nd homer and the rookie's 33rd in the Bronx this season. Ruth hit 32 home runs just across the Harlem River in 1921, when the Yankees still called the Polo Grounds home. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

"It's incredible. I've never played for a team like this," Judge said. "Everyone gets along. We're always competing. We're always having fun. That's what championship teams are made of, so I'm excited for what's going to happen here in the postseason." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

Making what could be his final regular-season start in pinstripes, Sabathia started in place of Jaime Garcia and blanked Toronto on four hits over 5 2/3 stellar innings, but the Red Sox defeated the Astros at Fenway Park to clinch their second straight AL East title. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

I feel pretty confident about where we're at right now and trying to make a good run at this thing," said Sabathia, who was undefeated in his final eight starts. "The goal was always to stay healthy and go out there and try to help the team win. I feel like I did a pretty good job of that." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

The Yankees now turn their attention to the AL Wild Card Game, which will be played on Tuesday night against the Twins in New York at 8 ET on ESPN. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

"It's frustrating because you know how well we've played in the last five or six weeks," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Again, I really like the way our club is playing. Let's play Tuesday and let's give it everything we've got." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

Starlin Castro added a fourth-inning RBI single off Stroman, who finished his year with a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts. Josh Donaldson lifted an eighth-inning sacrifice fly off David Robertson that was knocked down by the wind. Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth inning for his 22nd save. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

"Those two runs held up and you don't ever expect that," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "CC, I thought, threw the ball pretty good himself. The ball Josh hit with the bases loaded, I thought he hit that on the screws and the wind really knocked that thing down. On a normal day, who knows? Then they just shut us down." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

Judge entered this game 5-for-10 with a pair of home runs vs. Stroman and it didn't take long for his success to continue. In the fourth, Judge unloaded on a 2-0 fastball for a no-doubt solo shot over the wall in left. According to Statcast™, Judge's latest homer left his bat at 118.3 mph. Judge has two of the longest-tracked home runs this season. His longest was 495 feet, and his 484-foot blast comes fourth after Gary Sanchez (493 feet) and Joey Gallo (490 feet)." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

"The satisfaction came from getting a run on the board, especially against a tough pitcher like Stroman," Judge said. "It's tough to scratch runs across against him with the stuff that he has, so being able to get that first run on the board kind of got the offense going." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

The Blue Jays cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the eighth on Donaldson's sacrifice fly. Justin Smoak then stepped to the plate with the potential tying run on second base, but Robertson escaped the jam by getting Smoak to swing and miss at an 85.4-mph curveball on a 1-2 count. Robertson entered with two runners on and nobody out but was able to limit the damage and put Chapman in line for the save."That was loud off the bat," Robertson said of Donaldson's drive. "I really thought he hit it out of the park, or it was definitely going to be close. I definitely think the wind helped me and I'm glad it was blowing in." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

That was the goal of mine when I got into the league. I know how hard it is and how rare it is becoming. … Seeing guys like [Mark] Buehrle do it year after year is extremely inspiring, and the fact that everyone, when I got into the big leagues, said I was too short to be a starting pitcher [and not durable enough] … I'm strong. I can go out there and throw another 100 innings if I really wanted to." -- Stroman, on surpassing 200 innings for the second consecutive year "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

Blue Jays infielder Ryan Goins thought he had home run No. 10 for the season when he sent a shot to right field in the top of the sixth. The ball left the field of play, but first-base umpire Kerwin Danley immediately signaled fan interference and told Goins to stay at second. After a crew-chief review, the replays confirmed that a fan reached over the wall to catch the ball. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/256860826/aaron-judge-cc-sabathia-lead-yanks-past-jays/

With the win, New York improved to 91-70  although they didn't win the division. Meanwhile, Toronto dropped to 75-86 on the season.   

New York will now turn their attention to the regular season finale against Toronto Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. 

Toronto will start left-hander Brett Anderson. He has a record of 4-4 with a 6.97 earn run average. The final start of the year belongs to Anderson. He has been bothered by a blister in recent outings and had to leave his last start Monday vs the Redsox after five innings, but he was cleared to pitch on Closing Day. He will oppose New York left-hander Jordan Montgomery who has a record of 9-7 with a 3.96 earn run average. Montgomery has been sharp in each of his last two outings, holding the Orioles and Rays to one combined run over 12 innings while picking up the win in both starts. Prior to that he hadn't won since July 25. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2017/10/01/492528#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492528

First pitch is set for 3:05 pm. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2017/10/01/492528#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492528