Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees lineup Tuesday night for the first time in 84 games, but Cam Schlittler once again stole the spotlight as New York held off the Colorado Rockies, 5-3, in the Bronx to clinch its 34th consecutive winning season.
Schlittler delivered another dominant performance, allowing one run on three hits while striking out 10 and walking none over seven innings. The right-hander improved to 13-6 and lowered his American League-best earned run average to 2.01. He has allowed one run or fewer in 20 starts this season, the most in the major leagues and a Yankees record.
Judge, meanwhile, went hitless in his return after missing the previous 84 games with a broken rib. The Yankees captain struck out swinging with a runner on base in the first inning, flew out in the fourth and took a called third strike in the sixth before exiting in the seventh as planned.
New York grabbed the lead in the first when Luis GarcÃa Jr.’s single turned into a costly defensive sequence for Colorado left fielder Jake McCarthy. McCarthy misplayed the ball, then kicked it before committing a throwing error that allowed Cody Bellinger to score.
The Rockies tied the game in the third on Adael Amador’s home run, but Ryan McMahon put the Yankees back in front in the fifth with an RBI double off the bottom of the right-field wall against Colorado rookie Gabriel Hughes.
Heliot Ramos provided insurance in the eighth, launching a three-run home run one inning after replacing Judge.
Colorado made things interesting in the ninth when Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer off Tim Hill, but David Bednar struck out Mickey Moniak on three pitches to secure his 32nd save in 35 opportunities.
The victory kept New York (82-62) four games behind Tampa Bay (86-58) in the American League East and moved the Yankees three games ahead of Boston (80-66) for the top American League wild-card spot.
The Yankees and Rockies continue their series Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. when Will Warren faces Tomoyuki Sugano.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.