Yankees clinch record 61st postseason berth, 9th in 10 years - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — A few minutes after Aaron Judge's first home run since May, the New York Yankees clinched their record 61st postseason berth and ninth in 10 years.

«It's exciting to be in this position. You don't get to do it too many times. We know the ultimate goal,» Judge said as beer and sparkling wine were sprayed throughout the visitor's clubhouse at Target Field after an 8-3 win against Minnesota.

Judge, who returned last week after missing more than three months because of a fractured rib, hit a three-run homer off A.J. Minter in a six-run eighth as the Yankees took a 7-2 lead.

Spencer Jones was batting with two outs in the eighth when Toronto lost to Detroit, assuring New York of at least an AL wild card berth.

«I'm proud of the young guys coming up and filling some holes for us,» Judge said. «Seeing the way Spencer has really evolved every single time he's been called up, gotten a little bit better, our starting pitching doing what it's done. You call up a guy like George Lombard, 21 years old to be the shortstop of the Yankees, and he's just fit right in with this crew.»

Seeking its first World Series title since 2009, New York (87-63) closed within 3½ games of AL East leader Tampa Bay (90-59), which cliched a postseason berth on Friday.

Eighteen Yankees have landed on the injured list, including second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. last week with a sprained right thumb. Judge, a three-time AL MVP, missed 84 games due to a right rib stress fracture.

«This is a tough group, a close group. We weathered the storm between health situations throughout the year, and I think it's only made us better,» Jones said.

Before the homer, Judge had been 3-for-20 with 11 strikeouts since returning. The home run was his first since