Stanton’s Two-Homer Outburst Powers Yankees Past Orioles and Fuels AL East Chase
NEW YORK — Yankee Stadium has heard its share of thunder, but Giancarlo Stanton provided a double dose Friday night. The veteran slugger launched two majestic home runs, carrying the New York Yankees to an 8–4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles and tightening the American League East race with only a few games left on the schedule.
Stanton’s first blast came in the bottom of the third inning, a towering shot that rocketed into the second deck in left field. The ball left his bat at 114 mph and traveled an estimated 438 feet, sending the Bronx crowd into a frenzy and giving the Yankees an early lead. He wasn’t done. In the sixth, with the Yankees clinging to a slim margin, Stanton turned on a hanging slider and deposited it deep into the right-field bleachers for his second homer of the night.
“Giancarlo was locked in,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s been swinging it well, and when he gets going like that, he changes the entire feel of our lineup.”
The Yankees’ offense fed off Stanton’s power surge. Aaron Judge added two hits and an RBI, while Gleyber Torres chipped in a key double that plated a pair of runs. Combined, the lineup produced 10 hits and forced Baltimore pitchers to work deep counts all evening.
On the mound, right-hander Clarke Schmidt delivered a steady start, striking out six over five innings while limiting the Orioles to two runs. The bullpen handled the rest, with Michael King and Clay Holmes closing the door despite a late Baltimore rally.
“It’s that time of year when every win feels huge,” Judge said. “Giancarlo set the tone and the rest of us followed.”
For Stanton, the performance underscored his value as the Yankees push toward the postseason. Injuries have interrupted stretches of his career, but when healthy, few players in baseball can match his combination of raw power and quick bat speed. Friday’s performance lifted his season total to 35 homers, a reminder of the game-changing force he brings to the heart of the order.
“It’s fun when everything clicks,” Stanton said. “This is the time to step up. We all know what’s at stake.”
The victory improved New York’s record to 92–68 and kept pressure on the Toronto Blue Jays, who lead the division by a narrow margin. With only a handful of games left, each night carries the intensity of October.
Yankee Stadium reflected that urgency. From the first pitch to the final out, the Bronx faithful roared with playoff energy. When Stanton’s second homer sailed into the night sky, the crowd’s roar felt like a statement: the Yankees are not ready to cede the division.
Boone praised the collective effort. “We need everyone, and tonight we got it,” he said. “Giancarlo was incredible, but it was a full-team win. That’s what it takes down the stretch.”
As the Yankees chase another postseason berth, Stanton’s two-homer performance stands as both a highlight and a harbinger. If he stays hot, New York’s October dreams remain very much alive.
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