Aaron Judge hits MLB-best 53rd homer, Yankees open 3-game AL East lead with 5-2 win over Red Sox

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 53rd homer, and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2 on Sunday to open a three-game AL East lead over second-place Baltimore.

Judge, whose 132 RBIs also top the major leagues, homered twice in three games followed a career-high 16-game homerless streak and helped Carlos Rodón get his career-best 15th win.

New York (87-63) took three of four from the Red Sox and headed on the road for a seven-game trip to Seattle and Oakland on the verge of clinching a postseason berth after failing to reach the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016.

Tyler O’Neill hit a two-run homer for the Red Sox (75-75), who dropped 4 1/2 games behind Minnesota (79-70) for the final AL wild card spot.

Wearing No. 21 on Roberto Clemente Day, Judge hit a two-run shot in a three-run third off Kutter Crawford (8-15) on an 0-1 fastball. The 445-foot drive soared off the glass of the center-field restaurant that serve's as the batter's eye and fell onto the netting above Monument Park behind center field for a 4-0 lead.

After Boston manager Alex Cora admitted before the game Brayan Bello tried hitting Judge on purpose in the sixth inning Saturday on a pitch that was behind the slugger, Judge carried his bat about halfway down the line before dropping it as he approached first base.

“It’s a big homer,” Judge said. “We’re playing the Red Sox. This is a big rival, big games, big moment. So I’m just having some fun with the moment.”

Judge joined Babe Ruth (1921, 1927), Roger Maris (1961), Mickey Mantle (1961) as Yankees with at least 53 homers through New York's first 150 games.

“It’s been an amazing season and you’re not going to keep him off the board long even though I guess it’s long by his standards,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “That ball he hit today that ball is cleaned out off the restaurant out there.”

“For him it’s pretty normal,” Rodón said. “Not many guys take that pitch out to center like that.”

Gleyber Torres also homered off Crawford, a drive into the short porch in right to start the third. According to Statcast, Torres’ drive would have been a homer only at Houston and Yankee Stadium.

“Whatever he can do right now, I’m glad to see it in person,” Torres said about Judge.

Giancarlo Stanton had an RBI single along with a sacrifice fly as the Yankees won for the seventh time in 10 games.

Rodón allowed two runs and six hits 5 1/3 innings, surpassing his 14 wins with San Francisco in 2022.

Five relievers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Clay Holmes stranded a runner in the eighth and Tommy Kahnle got a double play on Jarren Duran to finish his first save this season.

Kahnle became the eighth pitcher to get a save for the Yankees this year. He needed only four pitches to get Duran to bounce into his second double play of the game.

Crawford has allowed a major league-high 33 home runs. He gave up four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings and lost his sixth straight start.

Rafael Devers singled ahead of O’Neill’s homer in the fourth, went 1 for 3 and is homerless in 17 straight games.

“It’s getting tougher and tougher,” Cora said after his team went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

Second baseman Romy Gonzalez’s error led to Boston’s major league-high 91st unearned run.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: OF Rob Refsnyder (right wrist discomfort) missed his third straight game and is still experiencing soreness. … RHP Tanner Houck, who was scratched from Friday’s start because of shoulder fatigue and last pitched on Sept. 4, is scheduled to pitch Wednesday in Tampa Bay.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Start a three-game series at Tampa Bay on Tuesday on Tuesday.

Yankees: RHP Luis Gil (13-6, 3.18 ERA) opposes Mariners RHP Bryan Wood (8-2, 2.38) in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton hits a sacrifice fly during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) celebrates with Jasson Dominguez, second from left, Juan Soto, second from right, and Aaron Judge, right, after a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge, right, celebrates with Juan Soto, front, and Jasson Dominguez (89) after a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge stands on first base that is commemorated for Roberto Clemente Day during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon walks off the field during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, left, walks out to take Kutter Crawford (50) out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Boston Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida reacts after flying out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story reacts after striking out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Clay Holmes pitches during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford reacts after giving up a two-run home run to New York Yankees' Aaron Judge during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge watches his two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres, right, is congratulated by Aaron Judge, left, after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

ROME (AP) — Roma fired coach Daniele De Rossi on Wednesday in a move that was surprising despite the Giallorossi going winless in their opening four Italian league matches.

Ivan Jurić, who formerly coached Genoa, Hellas Verona and Torino, was hired to replace De Rossi.

De Rossi, a former Roma captain, was hired in January to replace the fired Jose Mourinho and impressed so much during the second half of last season that he was given a contract extension in June through 2026-27.

“The club’s decision is made in the best interests of the team, to get back on the desired path as soon as possible at a time when the season is still in its early stages,” Roma said in a statement. “A heartfelt thank you to Daniele, who will always be at home at the Giallorossi club, for the work done in recent months with passion and dedication.”

Roma added that “communication regarding the team’s technical guidance will follow.”

Roma hosts Serie A leader Udinese on Sunday.

Jurić, who signed a contract until the end of the season, coached Torino the last three seasons, leading the club to 10th-place finishes in his first two campaigns and ninth place last season.

It's the first coaching change in Serie A this season.

After opening with a scoreless draw at Cagliari, Roma was beaten 2-1 at home by Empoli. Draws at Juventus (0-0) and Genoa (1-1) followed — leaving Roma with only three points and in 16th place.

De Rossi had transformed Roma into a better attacking unit than Mourinho’s defensive teams but this season has produced only two goals.

Next week, Roma opens its Europa League campaign against Athletic Bilbao at the Olimpico.

Romelu Lukaku’s loan spell at Roma ended after last season but talented striker Paulo Dybala stayed with the club after considering a move to Saudi Arabia.

Roma’s American owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin have often made surprising decisions.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi calls out to his players during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

FILE - Roma manager Daniele De Rossi speaks to his team during a Serie A soccer match against Atalanta at Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP, File)

FILE - Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi waits for the start of the Europa League second leg semi-final soccer match between Leverkusen and Roma at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)