Full Breakdown
Yankees Clinch 34th Straight Winning Season as Aaron Judge Returns
9/9/2026, 12:56:45 PM
Game Recap and Season Milestone
On Tuesday night the New York Yankees defeated the Colorado Rockies 5–3, securing their 34th consecutive winning season. The victory moved the Yankees to 82-62 on the season, keeping them four games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East and three games ahead of Boston for the top American League wild-card spot. The win marked the team’s 14th triumph in their last 21 games and matched a season-high by pushing the club 20 games over .500.
Aaron Judge’s Return
Aaron Judge rejoined the lineup on May 31 after missing 84 games with a fractured right rib. In his first three at-bats he struck out twice and went hitless, striking out swinging with a runner on in the first inning, flinging out in the fourth, and taking a called third strike in the sixth. He was removed from right field in the seventh as planned, and rookie Heliot Ramos entered in his place, later delivering a three-run homer in the eighth.
Cam Schlittler’s Pitching Performance
Cam Schlittler (13-6) delivered a dominant seven-inning effort, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and striking out 10 batters. The performance lowered his AL-best ERA to 2.01 and extended his streak of allowing no more than one run in 20 starts—the longest such run in the majors and a Yankees record. His outing also marked the fourth time this season he reached double-digit strikeouts.
Key Offensive Highlights
Ryan McMahon, facing his former team, hit a tiebreaking double in the fifth inning off rookie Gabriel Hughes (0-7). Hunter Goodman added a two-run, 37th career homer in the ninth, and David Bednar recorded his 32nd save in 35 opportunities. For Colorado, Adael Amador homered in the third inning.
Playoff Implications
The win solidifies the Yankees’ position as a playoff contender, maintaining a comfortable cushion in the wild-card race while keeping the team within striking distance of the AL East lead. The combination of Judge’s return and Schlittler’s pitching depth positions New York well for the final stretch of the season.
