Juan Soto hits 40th homer, Aaron Judge drives in 4 runs as Yankees thump Mariners 11-2

SEATTLE (AP) — Aaron Judge drove in four runs in his first two at-bats, Juan Soto hit his 40th homer of the season and 200th of his career, and the New York Yankees moved to the cusp of clinching a playoff berth with an 11-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

The Yankees can clinch at worst a wild-card spot in the American League with a victory over Seattle on Wednesday. The win in the opener of New York’s six-game road trip pushed the Yankees lead in the AL East to four games over Baltimore, their largest lead since holding a 4 1/2-game lead when play started on June 7.

“We know we're facing another tough pitcher and hopefully we can go out and get it done and cross off that first goal,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “But it hasn't been done yet. We just got to kind of keep going.”

Judge laced a two-run double three batters into the game and added a two-out, two-run single the next time he was up an inning later. Judge now has a league-leading 136 RBIs.

Soto joined the offensive outburst in the third inning with a two-out, two-run opposite field blast off Seattle starter Bryan Woo. It’s the first time in his career Soto has reached the 40-homer mark and he’s now homered in all 30 parks in baseball.

“To get to another goal in my career is just a great feeling. All the work that I've been putting in and get the results is really cool,” Soto said.

Soto and Judge are the third set of Yankee teammates to each hit 40 home runs in a season, joining Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig (1927, 1930, 1931), and Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris (1961).

“It's an honor. It's tough to really put into words. Those are baseball legends you're talking about,” Judge said.

The top three hitters in New York’s order — Judge, Soto and Gleyber Torres — were a combined 7-for-8 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs against Woo.

In two previous career starts against the Yankees, Woo had not given up a run. This time, he was tagged for a season-high seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and was knocked out after giving up Jasson Dominguez’s first homer since undergoing Tommy John surgery last September.

Woo (8-3) struck out seven and walked one. Austin Wells added a bases clearing double in the sixth inning as New York reached double figures in runs for the 14th time. Seattle had gone 107 consecutive home games without allowing 10 or more runs — the longest active streak in the majors.

“Not very good. Just made some mistakes,” Woo said.

Yankees starter Luis Gil struggled badly with his control early, but escaped trouble in the first inning thanks to a questionable decision by Victor Robles to try stealing home with the bases loaded, two outs and Justin Turner with a 3-0 count at the plate.

“Vic is an aggressive player, no doubt. That's part of his game. That's a situation you have got to know you're going to make it,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said.

Robles was out and Gil (14-6) ended up working five innings, giving up one run and striking out five. Jorge Polanco and Luke Raley hit solo homers and Julio Rodriguez — wearing crystal-embellished shoes — had four hits for Seattle.

The Mariners lost for just the second time this season in their “City Connect” uniforms, dropping to 15-2.

Marcus Stroman worked three innings of relief for the Yankees as part of his move to the bullpen for this road trip. It was the ninth relief appearance of his career. He gave up five hits including Raley's homer.

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Yankees: LHP Nester Cores (9-10, 3.90 ERA) threw five innings and allowed one run with nine strikeouts against Boston in his last start.

Mariners: RHP Bryce Miller (11-8, 3.12) has allowed one earned run and struck out 11 in his last two starts combined.

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Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez wears cleats featuring Swarovski crystals during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New York Yankees starter Luis Gil delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Mariners starter Bryan Woo delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge gestures to the dugout after hitting a two-run double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells tags out Seattle Mariners' Victor Robles attempting to steal home plate during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a two-run single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New York Yankees' Jasson Dominguez, right, celebrates with Anthony Rizzo after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez wears cleats featuring Swarovski crystals during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New York Yankees' Jasson Dominguez hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a two-run designated hitter during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, celebrates with third base coach Luis Rojas after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

SEATTLE (AP) — A year ago, the New York Yankees were knocked out of playoff contention with a week to go in the regular season, ending a string of six straight postseason appearances.

Remembering what that was like made wrapping up a playoff berth with more than a week left this time around feel that much better.

“A lot of things have come together. Probably better health overall. Definitely an added focus for guys that were coming off tough years and simply put, we’re better. We weren’t a great team last year and this team has a chance to do something special,” New York manager Aaron Boone said.

After spending last year sitting at home when the postseason arrived, the Yankees wrapped up their place in the 2024 playoffs with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings Wednesday night.

Nestor Cortes, who pitched six shutout innings, said this Yankees team is using the sting of last season as motivation heading into October.

“Last year we were out of the playoffs. Sour feeling for us,” Cortes said as New York players drenched each other in beer and bubbly during a jubilant clubhouse celebration.

“Coming into spring training, we had one goal, and that’s to make the playoffs, and we’re here. Obviously, the ultimate goal for every team is to be in the World Series and win the World Series. But as of right now, we’re going to enjoy this moment.”

New York has the best record in the American League at 89-63 and leads second-place Baltimore by five games in the AL East with 10 to play. The latest victory ensured the Yankees at least a wild card.

It’s the 59th postseason appearance in franchise history, but the Yankees are still trying to end a World Series drought that dates to 2009, when New York celebrated its 27th title.

Last year, the Yankees were hampered by an injury-riddled roster that was eliminated from playoff contention on Sept. 24. Before that, the Yankees hadn’t missed the postseason since 2016, when Aaron Judge had just 27 games of major league experience.

Now they’re headed back to the playoffs with Judge the MVP favorite in the American League, another hitting star in Juan Soto and a starting pitching staff that might have enough depth to carry the Yankees on a deep playoff run.

“(It’ll) definitely be exciting, especially after the season we had last year missing out on the postseason,” Judge said. “That’s what we came into the season to do, get into the postseason and give ourselves an opportunity to go out there and win a World Series. That’ll be step one, but we've got to get there first.”

The task over the final stretch is making sure that return to the playoffs includes going in as champions of the AL East. The recent slump by the Orioles has opened a gap in the division race and built perhaps enough of a cushion to take some of the drama away from next week’s three-game series between the teams in the Bronx.

But it only remains stress-free as long as the Yankees don’t stumble over the next few days. After closing out the series in Seattle on Thursday, the Yankees finish up their final trip with three games in Oakland.

They hope it’s the last time they have to be away from home for a while.

“Our goal is to win the division. That’s what we want to do," Soto said. “We’re going to focus on that and try to finish the season strong.”

Soto is a big reason the Yankees are back in the playoffs and might end up with home-field advantage in the American League. While Judge is rightfully the favorite to win his second MVP in the past three seasons with 53 homers and 136 RBIs, the contributions from Soto have been equally important.

Soto reached the 40-homer mark for the first time in Tuesday’s series opener against the Mariners. It was also the 200th longball of his career, at just age 25 and heading into an offseason when he will be the top free agent. The duo will probably determine just how deep this Yankees playoff run goes.

“Getting a front-row seat this year, all year, watching him, watching him go about it, watching him day in and day out, just a great hitter,” Boone said.

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

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, center, celebrates clinching a playoff spot with teammates, including catcher Austin Wells, right, after a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo follows through on an RBI double against the Seattle Mariners during the 10th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo reacts after hitting an RBI double against the Seattle Mariners during the 10th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto hits a double against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo hits an RBI single to score Jasson Domínguez against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)