A scoreboard in Detroit did the job before the Yankees did
The Yankees learned they were in the playoffs without having to do a thing. Toronto’s loss to Detroit, which came through while they were playing in Minneapolis, was enough. New York still made sure to put its stamp on the night: 8-3 against the Twins on Monday evening.
It’s the franchise’s ninth playoff trip in 10 seasons. That kind of consistency is rare in a sport built to flatten out the field. The Yankees sit 87-63, three and a half games back of the Tampa Bay Rays (90-59) in the American League East and five clear of Boston (82-68) for the top wild-card spot.
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Six games without a homer, then 415 feet into the third deck
Aaron Judge had not gone deep since returning from a broken rib last week. Six games, nothing. He ended that in the eighth, launching a 415-foot shot into the third deck in left field. Three runs scored, New York led 7-2, and it was his 18th homer of the year.
Modest numbers for a hitter used to piling up 50. Injuries have wrecked most of his 2026. The swing hasn’t changed one bit.
Six batters, five runs, one inning that flipped everything
New York was actually trailing 2-1 heading into that eighth. Jose Caballero tied it with a single that sent George Lombard Jr. home. Anthony Volpe and Caballero then pulled off a double steal before Ben Rice punched a broken-bat single just past diving shortstop Ryan Kreidler. Two more in, 4-2. Cody Bellinger kept it going, then Judge finished the job.
Caballero had already put the Yankees ahead in the third with his 14th homer, his first since August 30. Austin Wells added a solo shot in the ninth. For Minnesota (70-80), Emmanuel Rodriguez delivered a two-run triple in the sixth and Josh Bell went deep for a solo homer.
Both starters lasted 5 2/3 innings. Will Warren allowed two unearned runs for the Yankees, Dean Kremer gave up one for the Twins. Tim Hill got the win, John Schreiber his second save of the season.
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