Judge Breaks Homer Drought as Yankees Rout Twins

Judge Breaks Homer Drought as Yankees Rout Twins

New York dominated Minnesota with a 9-1 rout, buoyed by Aaron Judge’s first homer in almost three weeks, Giancarlo Stanton’s four-hit night, and Carlos Rodón’s seven strong innings.

Judge connected for the long ball his first since July 23, providing a spark early in the game. Stanton, meanwhile, had his best day at the plate in nearly two years, going 4-for-5 with a double, a homer and two more hits, marking his 54th career four-hit game including playoffs and his ninth as a Yankee. He doubled in the first at-bat, belted a two-run shot in the fifth, and added two singles before leaving the game with a pinch runner after his final at-bat.

The offense backed Rodón, who improved to 12-7 by allowing just one hit in seven innings. The only baserunner he surrendered in the first inning came on a leadoff single by Austin Martin, and Rodón then cruised, needing only 31 pitches to navigate that frame. He became the first Yankees pitcher to complete seven innings since the mid-July start against the Cubs, a notable milestone after a stretch of shorter outings.

Anthony Volpe supplied the big blow early, a three-run homer in the second that gave New York a lead it never relinquished. Stanton added his fourth-inning homer to push the advantage to 5-1, helping the Yankees win the series’ second game and extend their dominance in the matchup with Minnesota to nine consecutive victories.

Minnesota starter Travis Adams was knocked around as well, yielding four runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings. His rough outing contributed to a night where the Yankees’ offense proved versatile and potent, turning multiple early opportunities into a comfortable lead.

Key moments included Rodón loading the bases in the first by hitting Ryan Jeffers and allowing a run on Royce Lewis’s grounder, but he escaped further damage after that inning. Stanton’s night was equally eventful, capping his four-hit performance with a homer that highlighted the sustained offensive pressure the Yankees applied throughout the game.

Statistically, Stanton now has nine of his 14 career four-hit games while playing for the Yankees, underscoring his capacity for multi-hit games in the Bronx. The win also marks the Yankees’ third series victory since the All-Star break, and their first time taking the first two games of a series since sweeping Seattle in early July.

Up next, New York will send Cam Schlitter, a rookie right-hander, to the mound against Minnesota’s Joe Ryan, who owns an impressive 11-5 record and 2.79 ERA this season.

Summary and outlook:
– Judge ended his homer drought with a solo shot.
– Stanton delivered a standout four-hit performance with a homer.
– Rodón was dominant, firing seven innings of one-hit ball and little trouble after a tense first.
– Volpe’s three-run shot provided early momentum and set the tone for a convincing win.
– The Yankees look to carry this momentum into the next series as they continue to lean on a balanced mix of power and pitching.

Additional notes for readers:
– The combination of a strong starting effort and timely hitting from multiple sources could help New York build confidence as they move deeper into the season. If Stanton and Judge keep contributing at this level, and Rodón returns to form, the Yankees could be a more complete threat to opposing teams in the stretch run.

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