The Yankees infield defense let down Marcus Stroman, who was merely OK through five innings. The Yankees bats did not cash in on a few opportunities, Andres Chaparro Jersey including loading the bases with one out in the fifth inning and coming away with nothing. Mistakes, though, can be camouflaged by power and particularly by the best player in the sport authoring one of the greatest seasons ever seen. Aaron Judge hits his second home run of the game against the Rockies in the seventh inning on Aug. 25, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post Aaron Judge smoked his 50th and 51st home runs of the season on a day the Yankees clubbed five in an eventual 10-3 dismantling of the Rockies on a gorgeous and loud Sunday in The Bronx, where 41,324 watched a varsity player continue to feast on freshmen. On yet another day for history, Judge jump-started the lineup by blasting his 18th first-inning home run matching Alex Rodriguez (in 2001) for the major league record and became the fifth player to reach 50 in a season at least three times. Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Babe Ruth and Mark McGwire are not bad company. Explore More Speaking of good company, it wasnt Judge but Juan Soto who jump-started the seventh inning, when Judges Robin to his Batman sent a 418-foot bomb to right-center to cushion what had been a one-run edge. Jeff Criswells next pitch was a fastball to Judge, who redirected it 371 feet to right-center for his second of the day. Three pitches later, a Giancarlo Stanton mi sile made it back-to-back-to-back, and made the Stadium a nice venue for a party that intensified as the afternoon went on. Gleyber Torres three-run shot in the eighth provided a last jolt. Aaron Judge is all smiles in the Yankees dugout after his 51st home run of the season on Aug. 25, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post We couldnt separate really, manager Aaron Boone said after a game the Yankees led 4-3 after six innings. And then Juan gets it rolling. Judgie does what he does and G leaves no doubt. Judge was in the middle of the revelry. Through 131 Yankees games, the all-time slugger is on pace for 63 homers, which would break the club and league record that he set two seasons ago. Roger Maris Jr. might have to clear his September calendar. The Yankees season a solid one, to be sure suddenly almost feels like an afterthought. Its hard to put into words, Stroman said of Judge, who has drilled seven homers in his past six games, nine in his past 10 and 10 in his past 13. Running out of words, honestly, Boone said before the Yankees (77-54) brought the ALs best record to a road series with the Nationals. Were getting on the train. I got to get the thesaurus out. Juan Soto celebrates as he rounds third base after hitting a home run on Aug. 25, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post Judge, hitting .377 with 47 home runs in his past 102 games perhaps the greatest stretch in MLB history, considering no one had reached those totals in that span is making the impo sible seem po sible. Can Judge, who had a slow April, challenge Barry Bonds 73-homer 2001 season someday? If theres any guy in the league that can do it, Soto said, its going to be him. Judges campaign and career loom nearly as large as the stakes of the most famous baseball team in the world. The Yankees have won or split nine of their 12 past completed series and taken 17 of their past 26 games overall. Aaron Judge (l.) celebrates with Juan Soto (r.) after Sotos seventh-inning home run on Aug. 25, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post Their best players have shown up, their 1-through-4 hitters Sunday going 8-for-15 with all five home runs and all 10 RBIs. Soto, Judge and Stanton became the first trio of Yankees to homer in succe sion since Brett Gardner, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit in 2020. Against the Rockies (48-83), Boones group had misplayed its way into a first-inning hole. Two errors by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and a double play that was not executed Torres throw to first pulling LeMahieu off the bag helped Colorado score in the first and forced Stroman to throw 31 pitches in the frame. DJ LeMahieu of the Yankees scores on an RBI single by Juan Soto during the second inning on Aug. 25, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post But then Judge went to work, jumping on an 0-2 Austin Gomber changeup and clobbering it to left-center to give the Yankees a lead they would not surrender. This teams got a big mi sion in front of them, and I think were all focused on that right now, said Judge, who has yet to win a World Series but could make September nearly as exciting as October. Boone has said it does not feel as if Judges bat is hot; sizzling has become his normal. Judge agreed, saying he still does not feel locked in. Not yet, Judge said, suggesting there is another level to his game. Were still getting there. Evan Lee Jersey