NEW YORK — All that sparkling wine, on ice since Tuesday, was swiftly delivered to the ’ clubhouse during the latter stages of Thursday night’s game. Capping a four-RBI night, Giancarlo Stanton’s three-run double highlighted a six-run sixth inning at Yankee Stadium, where the home crowd happily celebrated an AL East-clinching . Adding to the festive feel against the , ace Gerrit Cole was delivered a standing ovation for his 6.
2 scoreless innings by 42,022 fans, while Aaron Judge was serenaded with more “M-V-P’’ chants. Winding down an incredible offensive year, Judge’s seventh-inning, two-run shot was his 58 of the year and his fifth homer in the last five games – tying a personal career mark. As the Yankees captain told O’s catcher Adley Rutschman the other day, “we’ll probably be seeing you down the road,’’ which might be next week.
Other than a Stanton solo home run, all of the Yankees’ Thursday night damage came against Baltimore’s bullpen after O’s ace Corbin Burnes exited after five innings (to stay fresh for postseason). In victory, the Yankees (93-66) gained instant entry to the best-of-five AL Division Series, beginning Oct. 5 in the Bronx, while the second place Orioles (88-71) must first survive a wild card round.
And the playoff-bound O’s would be a dangerous October opponent, having gone 8-5 against the Yanks in the regular season, including two wins in this just-completed three-game set. “It’s tournament baseball,’’ Ya.