Fantastic Job Well Done: Aaron Judge Leads Yankees in 9–4 Rout of Pirates, Sends Team to the Top.
Aaron Judge reminded the baseball world why he’s the captain of the Bronx Bombers on Thursday night, powering the Yankees to a commanding 9–4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The win not only gave fans a thrilling offensive showcase — it also vaulted the Yankees to the top of the American League standings.
Judge was in vintage form, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, a double, and four RBIs. His leadership was on full display both at the plate and in the dugout, rallying his teammates after a shaky first inning where the Pirates briefly held a 2–1 lead.
“We came here to make a statement,” Judge said postgame. “And I think we did that tonight.”
The Yankees responded to the early deficit with a six-run explosion in the fourth inning, led by clutch hits from Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, and a bases-clearing double from DJ LeMahieu. Meanwhile, starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt settled in after early struggles, finishing with six strong innings and seven strikeouts.
The Pirates, who had hoped to cool off the red-hot Yankees, were left scrambling to keep up. Defensive miscues and a faltering bullpen only added to their woes as New York extended the lead to 9–3 by the seventh.
With this win, the Yankees cap off a dominant series and now sit comfortably atop the AL standings, a spot they haven’t held this securely since early last season. Manager Aaron Boone praised Judge’s performance, calling it “captain-caliber baseball.”
“This is what he does — he sets the tone,” Boone said. “Tonight was about making a statement, and Aaron led the charge.”
With momentum on their side and Judge in full form, the Yankees look every bit like a team on a mission.
