Judge sets club HR mark as Yankees catch O’s atop AL East

Judge extended his Major League home run lead with a solo blast off Grayson Rodriguez, becoming the first Yankees player ever to tally 34 home runs before an All-Star break. New York posted its first series victory since June 10-13 at Kansas City, having fared 0-7-1 in sets since that date.

Juan Soto and Judge slugged back-to-back homers in the fifth inning, and Austin Wells cracked a three-run blast in the first to support right-hander Luis Gil, who continued to bounce back from a three-start summer swoon by striking out seven over six innings of one-run ball.

Roger Maris (33 in 1961) and Judge (33 in 2022) previously held the club record for home runs before an All-Star break.

Judge’s 34 homers are tied for seventh most in Major League history before an All-Star break, trailing Barry Bonds (39 in 2001), Chris Davis (37 in 2013), Reggie Jackson (37 in 1969), Mark McGwire (37 in 1998), Luis González (35 in 2001) and Ken Griffey Jr. (35 in 1998). Frank Howard also had 34 in 1969.

The home run was Judge’s 42nd against the Orioles, his most against any opponent. He has also hit 24 home runs in 55 games at Camden Yards, including 10 in his past 17 games (since May 17, 2022).

It marked the second time this season that the Yankees have hit back-to-back home runs; Soto and Judge also connected for consecutive blasts on May 24 at San Diego.