September 24, 2025

Judge Belts Nos. 50 and 51, Yankees Surge Into Tie for AL East Lead With 8 to 1 Rout of White Sox

Yankees

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Aaron Judge reminded baseball why he is the game’s most formidable slugger. With two thunderous swings, Judge reached 50 home runs for the fourth time in his career, a feat matched only by Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa, and powered the New York Yankees to an emphatic 8 to 1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

The win, backed by a stellar performance from ace left hander Max Fried, lifted the Yankees to 90 wins and into a tie atop the American League East with the Toronto Blue Jays. It is the first time since early July that New York can claim at least a share of first place in the division. Just a week ago the Yankees trailed by five games. With four contests remaining in the regular season, New York is now squarely in control of its destiny.

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Judge Joins Rarefied Home Run Company

Judge’s 50th blast of the year arrived in the second inning, a towering three run shot off right hander Jonathan Cannon that landed beyond the wall in straightaway center. The drive flipped a 1 to 0 deficit into a 3 to 1 Yankees lead and ignited a ballpark that had been buzzing from first pitch.

He added number 51 in the eighth inning with a solo shot to right center against lefty Cameron Booser, stretching the margin to 8 to 1 and capping a night that will sit comfortably among the signature performances of his career.

“We are focused on playing our game,” Judge said afterward. “We can check the standings, but the biggest thing is the trust in this clubhouse. If we do our job every night, we will be where we want to be.”

Judge has now produced four seasons of at least 50 home runs. He hit 52 as a rookie in 2017, an American League record 62 in 2022, 58 last year, and now 51 with games still to play. Only Ruth, McGwire, and Sosa had previously authored four seasons of 50 or more. In an era with high velocity pitching and deeper bullpens, the consistency is astonishing.

Max Fried Dominant Again

While Judge provided the thunder, Max Fried delivered the calm and control that has defined his September. The left hander improved to 19 and 5 with seven authoritative innings, allowing four hits and one run with seven strikeouts and two walks. His earned run average dipped to 2.86. He has won six straight starts and is 6 and 0 with a 1.55 ERA across his last seven outings, the most reliable run by a Yankees starter all season.

New York also unveiled a “Fried Rice” battery for the first time, as the All Star worked with rookie catcher Ben Rice. Rice helped guide the game plan and chipped in a triple that set up a third inning run. The pairing looked natural from the opening pitch.

“He is incredible,” Judge said of Fried. “You lose a pitcher like Gerrit Cole and you cannot truly replace that. Max came in and led by example right away. He and Carlos Rodón have been a force at the top of the rotation.”

Support From Grisham and a Deepening Lineup

The Yankees lineup applied pressure all night. Trent Grisham reached base three times and crushed his 34th home run, a two run drive in the eighth that preceded Judge’s second blast. Paul Goldschmidt contributed an RBI single, Jazz Chisholm roped an RBI double, and Ben Rice’s triple set the table for another run. New York finished with 10 hits and five walks and did not chase often, forcing Chicago pitchers into the zone.

Cannon took the loss, tagged for five runs on six hits across four and one third innings. Tyler Alexander kept the game within reach for two innings, but Booser surrendered the decisive late homer barrage.

White Sox Slide Continues

Chicago has dropped 10 of 11 and now owns 100 losses for a third straight season, tied for the second most in American League history behind the Washington franchise that endured four in a row from 1961 through 1964. The White Sox scratched across a run in the second inning on a Lenyn Sosa sacrifice fly, but never mounted a sustained threat after Judge’s first blast. They finished with five hits and eight strikeouts.

The Swing That Tilted the Night

The game turned in the bottom of the second. With two outs and two aboard, Judge got a fastball in a nitro zone and did not miss. The ball soared into the batter’s eye, the crowd exploded, and the Yankees never looked back. The swing changed not only the scoreboard but the tone of the evening. From that moment the White Sox were chasing shadows against Fried’s command of four pitches.

Why This Matters for the Standings

New York has won seven of eight and is a season high 22 games over .500. Toronto’s recent slide, with six losses in seven games, opened the door. The two clubs are tied, and the Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker, which means the Yankees must finish one game clear to capture the division. With four games remaining, each inning carries real leverage for seeding and for lining up the rotation.

New York also reached 90 wins for the seventh time in the last eight full seasons. The consistency speaks to depth and to the ability to withstand injuries and slumps, and it positions the club for a postseason in which pitching depth and power tend to travel.

Historical Lens on the 50 Homer Club

Hitting 50 home runs in one season is rare. Doing it multiple times requires exceptional skill, health, and adaptability. Ruth topped 50 in four seasons during the 1920s. McGwire reached the mark four times during the home run boom of the late 1990s. Sosa also hit at least 50 four times, including a stunning run from 1998 through 2001. Judge now stands beside them. He has achieved it in an era rich with high spin breaking balls, meticulous scouting, and matchup heavy bullpen usage. That context magnifies the accomplishment.

Judge’s profile is unique. His average exit velocity, hard hit rate, and barrel rate sit at the top of the sport every season. Yet his year to year evolution may be even more impressive. Early in his career he did most of his damage on pitches middle in. In recent seasons he has extended his zone coverage, punishing breaking balls that finish at the knees and riding high fastballs to the opposite field. The swing remains explosive, but the approach has matured into one that covers more of the strike zone without inviting chase.

A Team Finding Peak Form

Beyond the headliners, the Yankees are playing crisp baseball. Defensive positioning has helped turn hard grounders into quick outs. The bullpen has found better shape with roles clarified and with leverage matchups that make sense from the seventh inning on. Offensively, the club has paired power with traffic. Walks have gone up, two strike approaches have improved, and hitters are stringing together at bats that push pitch counts toward bullpen exposure.

Grisham’s second half power spike has lengthened the order. Goldschmidt has supplied veteran swing decisions and contact quality. Chisholm’s athleticism shows up both on the bases and in the gaps. With Anthony Volpe continuing to impact games with doubles and defense, the Yankees have the makings of a lineup that wears down starters and then punishes mistakes from middle relievers.

Inside the Seventh and Eighth Innings

Fried finished the seventh on a soft fly to right after a walk and a deep count, a sequence that drew a roar because it concluded a night of efficient, low stress pitching. Devin Williams handled the eighth, and Paul Blackburn closed the ninth to secure the final three outs. In between, the Yankees blew the game open. Grisham hammered a center cut offering from Booser for a two run shot. Judge followed with a laser into the right center power alley. The back to back fireworks felt like a statement, and the dugout response reflected a club that has embraced late season urgency.

Postgame Voice of the Captain

“Every season brings ups and downs,” Judge said. “Over 162 games you are going to have stretches where the offense carries the day and stretches where the pitching carries the day. What matters is trust. The pitchers pick us up, then we pick them up. It takes every player in the lineup and every arm in the bullpen to win these games.”

Asked about Fried, Judge did not hesitate.

“He has meant everything,” Judge said. “On the mound and in the clubhouse. We are lucky to have him, and there is more to come.”

As for the fourth season with 50 or more long balls, Judge kept the focus forward.

“You cannot sit and watch,” he said. “There is work ahead. We clinched a spot, but we are hunting the division and a better seeding for October.”

The Box Score Story in Brief

White Sox 1 run on 5 hits with no errors. Yankees 8 runs on 10 hits with one error. Judge finished 3 for 4 with two home runs and four runs batted in. Grisham reached base three times and drove in two with his late homer. Goldschmidt and Chisholm each added an extra base hit and an RBI. Fried authored seven strong innings and earned win number 19. Cannon took the loss after allowing five runs in four and one third.

What Comes Next

The series concludes Thursday night with Carlos Rodón, who is 17 and 9 with a 3.04 ERA, facing Chicago right hander Davis Martin, who is 7 and 10 with a 4.03 ERA. A win would complete a sweep and could deliver sole possession of first place depending on Toronto’s result. Then comes the regular season finale set, where rotation alignment and health management will share the stage with the division chase.

Final Word

On a night when history met urgency, the Yankees looked like a club built for October. Judge provided the headline. Fried supplied the backbone. The lineup and bullpen filled in the edges with disciplined at bats and clean run prevention. The stadium felt alive, the standings tightened, and the Bronx once again sounded like a place where seasons turn.

There is work left to do. For now, though, the captain stands beside Ruth, McGwire, and Sosa in the record book, and the Yankees wake up knowing that the road to the American League East crown still runs through them.


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Felix Pantaleon is The Founder of NYYNEWS.com The First & Oldest Independent New York Yankees Content Creator Platform, Since 2005.Follow on Social Media Instagram - X.com

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