Aaron Judge Drives Yankees Past Tigers 9-3 in Detroit

The Detroit Tigers’ strong series in New York ended on a sour note Thursday night. They fell 9-3 to the Yankees in the Bronx.

After taking the first two games, Detroit couldn’t complete the sweep. Aaron Judge’s power and a pitching collapse in the middle innings undid them.

The night felt charged with emotion as the Yankees held their traditional September 11 tribute. The sellout crowd added to the drama with a mix of cheers and boos when former president Donald Trump appeared on the video board.

The Tigers still hold a comfortable lead in the AL Central. They’ll look to bounce back in Miami.

Pregame Emotion Sets the Stage

The evening started on a poignant note as firefighter Regina Wilson delivered a moving rendition of the national anthem. The 9/11 remembrance ceremony in New York always carries a deep resonance.

The Yankee Stadium faithful responded with a mix of solemn respect and roaring energy. That intensity bled into the game itself, especially when Trump’s cameo on the video board sparked a wave of political reaction from the stands.

Energy Translates to Early Offense

The Yankees jumped on the Tigers right away, striking first against opener Tyler Holton. Holton gave up two runs in just over an inning, putting Detroit behind early.

Still, the Tigers fought back. They tied the game in the second inning, but the Yankees’ power bats soon took over.

Aaron Judge’s Historic Night

Aaron Judge stole the spotlight with a pair of majestic solo home runs—his 45th and 46th of the 2024 season. With these blasts, Judge tied Joe DiMaggio for fourth on the Yankees’ all-time list, reaching 361 career homers.

His dominance at the plate set the tone, igniting the crowd and keeping Detroit’s pitchers on edge. It was one of those nights where you just knew Judge wouldn’t be denied.

Tigers’ Pitching Falters

After Holton’s early struggles, reliever Sawyer Gibson-Long couldn’t stop the bleeding. He surrendered seven runs in just 2⅓ innings, leaving the Tigers in a deep hole.

The bullpen managed to steady things late. Bailey Horn, Brenan Hanifee, and Keider Montero combined for scoreless frames, with Montero freezing Judge on a strikeout to escape a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.

Dillon Dingler Shines Despite the Loss

Not everything went wrong for Detroit. Rookie catcher Dillon Dingler kept impressing, driving in two of the Tigers’ three runs.

His seventh-inning solo homer was a rare bright spot in an otherwise tough night at the plate. Dingler finished the series 6-for-13 with a home run and a double, making a strong case for more playing time as the season winds down.

Missed Opportunities Sink Tigers

Detroit had chances to make it interesting, even if the final score didn’t show it. They loaded the bases in the fifth but couldn’t push a run across—a missed opportunity that stung.

Yankees starter Cam Schlittler struck out seven over six innings and allowed just one run. The Tigers struggled to find timely hits when they needed them most.

Standings, Stakes, and What’s Next

Detroit drops to 84-63 on the season. They still hold an 8½-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.

The magic number to clinch the division stays at eight. Postseason plans look solid, but the Tigers need to sharpen up as October creeps closer.

Skubal Set to Lead in Miami

The Tigers won’t have much time to dwell on this loss. They head to Miami next, with ace Tarik Skubal lined up to start Friday’s opener.

Skubal has been dominant this season, and he gives Detroit their best shot to start another winning streak. Momentum matters with the final weeks looming—let’s see if they can grab it back.

Key Takeaways

The pregame tributes ran high on emotion, and Judge’s milestones added even more drama. Thursday night’s game definitely had a lot going on.

The Tigers, though, learned the hard way about missed chances. Steady pitching matters, especially when the crowd’s against you.

• Tigers dropped the series finale 9-3, even after taking the first two games.
• Aaron Judge tied Joe DiMaggio with 361 career home runs.
• Dillon Dingler kept up his breakout series and looked sharp again.
• Pitching issues in the middle innings really hurt Detroit.
• Detroit still holds a strong lead in the AL Central with 15 games left.

Detroit heads to Miami on Friday. It’s a chance to bounce back and prove they can shake off nights like this.

 
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