Sports
Soto, Judge on fire as Yankees drown Mariners

SEATTLE, Washington — 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 (Wednesday in Manila).

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.

Victor Robles of the Seattle Mariners is caught stealing home plate by Austin Wells of the New York Yankees during the second inning at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 17, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. AFP PHOTO