Judge hits 55th homer of season, Yankees beat Athletics 7-4 and draw closer to clinching AL East

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 55th homer of the season, Gleyber Torres and Jasson Domínguez also went deep and the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7-4 on Sunday for a three-game sweep that moved New York to the verge of an AL East title.

Already assured of a playoff berth, the Yankees (92-64) can clinch the division with one victory over second-place Baltimore (86-70) during a three-game series in the Bronx that starts Tuesday night.

New York opened a two-game lead over Cleveland for homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs.

“Hopefully it's rocking,” manager Aaron Boone said of what he expects the environment at Yankee Stadium to be like on Tuesday.

Judge, originally drafted by the A’s in 2010 and from the California Central Valley, homered in each of his final two games at the Coliseum. He received a rousing ovation from the large contingent of Yankees fans in attendance when he ran out to center field before the game and again when he rounded the bases after his solo shot to center in the third.

The A’s, who will play in Sacramento next season ahead of a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028, have one more series left at the Coliseum against the Texas Rangers beginning on Tuesday. They drew 24,663 in the Yankees’ series finale on Sunday.

Boone gave the game ball to Judge, who reached base four times and scored two runs. Judge said he was sad that the A’s are leaving Oakland, reminiscing on memories as both a player and a kid when he made a few trips to the Coliseum.

“There’s a lot of history in this building,” Judge said. “You can go back to the '70s, what they were able to do here three years in a row. A lot of special players played here, and just getting a chance to be on that same field and do some things — it’s definitely something I won’t forget.”

Judge already holds the AL single-season home run record he set with 62 in 2022 and moved ahead of Babe Ruth (1920, 1928), Mickey Mantle (1961) and Alex Rodriguez (2007) for fifth-most in franchise history. Judge has given the Yankees a lead with a home run 23 times this season.

A's manager Mark Kotsay said that Judge has his MVP vote and called the Yankees “one of the better teams we’ve run into.”

“That team showed why they have the record they do, why they’re going to the postseason,” Kotsay said. “They pretty much played really good baseball. They pitched really well and they had the timely hitting, the big hits and they showed their power today and this series.”

Domínguez tied the score at 2-2 with a two-run drive in the second. Judge followed in the third and Torres hit a solo shot to lead off the fifth off Joey Estes (7-9). Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a sacrifice fly later in the inning for a 5-2 lead.

Tyler Soderstrom and Ryan Noda each had two-run doubles for the A’s. Giancarlo Stanton doubled in a run in the seventh after Oakland closed to 5-4.

Luís Gil (15-6) won his third straight decision, allowing four runs, five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. Luke Weaver got five outs for his fourth save.

Gil said he was “extremely happy and satisfied” to reach 15 wins as a rookie and thankful for the run support on Sunday.

“Even if the opposing team scores a thousand runs, I want to keep giving my team a shot,” Gil said in Spanish, through an interpreter. “Because I know that those guys are going to be able to come back and score.”

Oakland's Lawrence Butler went 0 for 5, ending his league-leading streak of reaching base safely at 27 straight games.

ROSTER MOVES

Athletics: RHP Brandon Bielak was designated for assignment and RHP Joe Boyle was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: RHP Jake Cousins (right pec strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Yankees manager Aaron Boone is hopeful that the reliever can return for the postseason, but is scheduled to see team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad on Monday. ... RHP Lou Trivino (right elbow), who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, has been shut down from his minor league rehab assignment, Boone said.

Athletics: RHP Ross Stripling (lower back strain) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session. He is expected to face live hitters on Tuesday and could be activated ahead of the final weekend of the season.

UP NEXT

Yankees: RHP Clarke Schmidt (5-4, 2.37 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday night against Orioles RHP Dean Kremer (7-10, 4.19).

Athletics: RHP Mitch Spence (8-9, 4.30 ERA) start Tuesday against Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-8, 3.96).

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

Oakland Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom (21) scores during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Oakland Athletics pitcher Michel Otañez throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, far right, celebrates a win with second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) after a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge is forced out at home by Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, left, celebrates a win with pitcher Luke Weaver after a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton hits during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) celebrates with Aaron Judge (right) after he scored during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

CHICAGO (AP) — Shota Imanaga pitched seven crisp innings in his sixth consecutive win, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Sunday.

Imanaga (15-3) was backed by home runs from Mike Tauchman, Michael Busch and Miguel Amaya. The Japanese left-hander allowed six hits, struck out four and walked none, continuing his strong finish to his first season in the majors.

“He did a good job with that heater kind of up and away to them,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Pretty simple game plan and he executed it very well.”

The start of the game was delayed for 2 hours, 20 minutes because of rain. The Wrigley Field crowd of 30,086 passed the time by watching much of the Bears' 21-16 loss at Indianapolis on the massive videoboard in left-center.

“Today I kept in mind ... that there is a possibility it might continue to rain and there might be a delay,” Imanaga said through a translator. “So just keeping that in mind and not getting swayed too much with how the environment is around me and just focusing on the game.”

The Cubs (80-76), who were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, took three of four in the series. They went 6-1 against the Nationals this season.

James Wood and José Tena each had two of Washington's eight hits. Jake Irvin (10-13) allowed five runs and four hits in four innings.

The Nationals (69-87) closed out a 1-6 trip. They finished their road schedule with a 33-48 record.

Tauchman got Chicago off to a fast start when he drove a 2-0 fastball from Irvin off the bottom of the scoreboard in right for a leadoff drive in the first inning. It was Tauchman's seventh homer of the season.

“He steps in there and has that at-bat. I think that just builds some momentum for us,” Busch said, “and kind of just built off of that.”

The Cubs broke it open with three runs in the fourth. Busch led off with his 21st homer, a drive to right on a 2-1 fastball. With Pete Crow-Armstrong aboard after a two-out walk, Amaya went deep for his eighth on the year.

Irvin was coming off a pair of impressive starts, allowing a total of two runs and six hits in 13 1/3 innings.

Washington had its best scoring opportunity in the eighth against Ethan Roberts. With runners on the corners and one out, Joey Gallo sent a pinch-hit liner down the right field line. Umpire Tripp Gibson originally said it was foul, but then changed his mind and ruled it was a ground-rule double.

The Cubs challenged the call and it was overturned. Gallo then struck out swinging and Luis García Jr. bounced to shortstop, ending the inning.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: LF Ian Happ was scratched with lower back tightness. Counsell said he is day to day.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Following an off day, LHP Mitchell Parker (7-10, 4.44 ERA) starts Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game home series against Kansas City.

Cubs: At Philadelphia on Monday night for the opener of a three-game set against the Phillies. There has been no word on Chicago's rotation for the series.

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

Fans wait during a rain delay before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Fans wait during a rain delay before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Washington Nationals' Keibert Ruiz swings and strikes out on a foul tip during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Washington Nationals' Juan Yepez looks to the field after string out swinging during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Cubs' Miguel Amaya, right, celebrates with Pete Crow-Armstrong after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch, right, celebrates with third base coach Willie Harris, left, as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga, of Japan, throws against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga, right, of Japan, is congratulated by catcher Miguel Amaya, left, as they walk to the dugout after the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)