After Saturday's drama vs. Red Sox, Aaron Judge's monstrous homer leads the Yankees to win

NEW YORK – Twelve games remain in the Yankees’ regular season, and odds are they’re finished with the Boston Red Sox until 2025.

So, tune in next spring for the continuing drama of Gerrit Cole vs. Rafael Devers, and all the subplots surrounding this ancient baseball rivalry.

On Sunday afternoon, the Yanks moved a little closer to a division title, and the Sox edged a bit closer to winter after Aaron Judge powered the Yankees to a 5-2 win at the Stadium.

In the Yanks’ three-run third inning, Judge’s monstrous, 445-foot two-run homer – his 53rd of the year – came a few hours after manager Alex Cora’s tacit admission that the Red Sox had thrown at the Yankees’ captain Saturday.

AARON JUDGE: See how many home runs he's on pace for this season

And it all stems from Cole’s rough Saturday outing against Devers & Co., and a bizarre fourth-inning intentional walk to Devers .

Cora inferred Sunday morning that Boston starter Brayan Bello purposely delivered a 97-mph fastball toward Judge’s lower half in Saturday’s sixth inning, suggesting it was a response to Cole drilling Rafael Devers in Saturday's first inning.

Bello’s pitch missed Judge, who eventually flied out.

Asked if the matter of defending Devers was closed Sunday, Cora said “it was closed (Saturday) like around the sixth inning. We had our chance. Didn’t happen, and we have to move on.’’

With one swing, Aaron Judge answers back vs. Red Sox

Cole had also hit two other Red Sox with pitches Saturday, doubling his seasonal total in one game.

“I know they were upset that three of their guys got hit. And I think they’re just protecting their players,’’ Judge said diplomatically.

“Something’s got to happen, and that’s the way this game...gets policed, and has been policed, for over 100 years.

“The biggest thing is don’t miss when you do it.’’

Judge didn’t miss his pitch, an 0-1 Kutter Crawford fastball that banged off the batter’s eye above Monument Park for a 4-0 lead, two batters after a Gleyber Torres solo shot.

That was RBI Nos. 131 and 132 for Judge, topping his career best in that category, from his AL record-setting 62-homer season of 2022. Plus, he's the first Yankee to reach safely 300 times through the club's first 150 games since Mickey Mantle in 1957.

As for Saturday's wayward pitch by Bello, “That’s baseball. He missed,’’ Judge said. “Nothing I can do besides take it and go to first.’’

After Sunday’s homer, Judge carried his bat more than halfway to first base before he casually tossed it away.

“A big homer, we’re playing the Red Sox. It’s a big rival, big games, big moments Just having some fun there,’’ said Judge, one of the Yanks who wore No. 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente Day.

Alex Cora, Aaron Judge have a 'good' conversation

Cora's candidness could result in a one-game suspension or fine by MLB, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone had a curt response after hearing the comments implying Judge was thrown at.

"Yeah, that’s not allowed. Obviously, you can’t do that,'' said Boone. "We’re finished playing with them for now. We’re on to Seattle (the Yanks next series, beginning Tuesday).''

Cole said he didn’t intentionally throw at Devers and Boone backed his starter, and suggested Cora was trying to fire up his team.

“I have a lot of respect for Alex, and I think he’s great at what he does,’’ Boone said earlier Sunday of Cora, with whom he has a genuine friendship.

“I think it’s also a manager that’s using that moment to rally his troops a little bit as they’re fighting for their playoff lives,’’ said Boone, adding there’s “probably a little gamesmanship to it.’’

Both managers said they spoke briefly with each other about the Cole-Devers situation after Saturday's game, and Cora also spoke with Judge.

"A good convo,'' said Judge. "Kind of keep it at that.''

Now, the Yankees can switch to another drama - the "Who Do You Trust?'' bullpen end game - after Tommy Kahnle rescued Jake Cousins in the ninth, following Clay Holmes' scoreless eighth inning appearance (he gave up a double and recorded two outs).

Kahnle's first save of the year gave Carlos Rodon (5.1 IP, 2 ER) his 15th win of the year.

More Yankees vs. Red Sox drama

As for his belief that Cole intentionally hit Devers, “put yourself in our shoes and you will understand why we feel this way,'' said Cora.

Cora felt Devers was deliberately drilled by an 0-1 cutter Saturday due to Devers’ high success rate against the Yankees’ ace, and the Boston manager used Cole’s odd intentional walk to Devers - one out, none on base, a 1-0 Yanks lead - as evidence.

“He doesn’t want to face (Devers), that’s the bottom line,” Cora said after Saturday’s 7-1 Red Sox win.

“He told us with the intentional walk that the first at-bat, he hit him (purposely). They can say whatever they want. The intentional walk (made it) loud and clear that he didn’t want to face him.’’

By late Sunday afternoon, the Yankees could at least look beyond that drama, having taken two of three games from Kansas City and three of four from Boston to conclude the homestand.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: After Saturday's drama vs. Red Sox, Aaron Judge's monstrous homer leads the Yankees to win