Red-hot Judge powers streaking Yankees past Red Sox 9-7

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge homered twice and drove in five runs, connecting for the fifth straight game and breaking an eighth-inning tie with a tape-measure shot that powered the New York Yankees past the Boston Red Sox 9-7 on Sunday night for their sixth consecutive victory.

“I really think he’s on a mission right now,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Luke Voit also went deep in a back-and-forth slugfest to help the Yankees (7-1) finish a three-game sweep in the first series this season between the longtime rivals. New York has won six in a row and 11 of 12 against Boston since last July.

DJ LeMahieu tied it 7-all in the eighth with a two-out RBI single off Matt Barnes (0-1) past diving second baseman José Peraza. The clutch hit came after Mike Tauchman, who entered on defense in the seventh, walked and stole second.

“We needed that win,” Barnes said. “Two outs and can’t walk the 9-hole hitter.”

Judge then launched a 2-0 breaking ball, a no-doubt drive that landed several rows up in the raised bleachers beyond the left-center bullpen for his sixth home run already this year.

With no fans allowed at Yankee Stadium because of the coronavirus, teammates in the dugout were easily heard bellowing in excitement when Judge connected.

“Not locked in yet. Still trying to find it,” he said. “I’m feeling good.”

The big slugger also socked a three-run shot in the second, making him the first Yankees player since Álex Rodríguez in September 2007 to homer in five straight games.

“He's healthy, man. He's a stud,” Voit said. “He's in a groove right now. It's a guy that you don't want to take your eyes off when he's hitting.”

Xander Bogaerts went 4 for 4 with two homers, a double and three runs for Boston (3-7). Rafael Devers put the Red...

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