A series of thrilling victories decided in the final innings could give the New York Yankees new momentum in their bid to win the American League East.

Fresh off their third straight win decided in the seventh inning or later – the last thanks to Aaron Judge’s first home run in more than two weeks – the Yankees will look to extend their division lead when they host the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.

The Yankees (86-62) defeated the Red Sox 5-4 on Friday thanks to Judge’s grand slam in the seventh inning that gave them the lead.

Judge hit his 52nd home run, a major league record, and his first since his second home run on August 25 against the Colorado Rockies, ending a career-high 16-game home run drought.

“It felt like a playoff in the seventh inning when we got ourselves back together,” Judge said. “So that’s what we’ve been waiting for, that’s for sure.”

The dramatic blow gave the Yankees six wins in eight games and a three-game lead over the second-place Baltimore Orioles, New York’s largest lead since June 14.

“Hopefully no one is looking at the table,” Judge said. “I certainly am not.”

Boston (74-74) will try to stay below .500 for the first time since June 11. The Red Sox have lost seven straight road games and are 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins in the battle for the third AL wild-card spot.

“I hate to say it, but it’s still there,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We just need to win a couple of games and make it interesting next week.”

Boston’s Masataka Yoshida and Trevor Story hit two-run home runs on Friday before Zack Kelly struck out a no-hitter in the seventh inning, leading to Cam Booser allowing Judge’s grand slam.

Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, who hit 1-for-3, has not hit a home run in his last 15 games. Devers has a .175 batting average (10-for-57) since his last home run on Aug. 25.

No batter has hit more home runs against Yankees starter Gerrit Cole, who starts Saturday, than Devers, who forced the right-hander into a home run eight times. Devers is 13 for 39 (.333) with 18 RBIs against Cole.

In his last appearance, Cole (6-4, 3.36 ERA) suffered a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs when he allowed two unearned runs in the first inning and three hits in six innings on Sunday. It was the sixth time in his last seven starts that he allowed two runs or fewer.

Cole has a 7-5 record with a 4.84 ERA in 18 regular season games against the Red Sox. He received a no-decision against Boston on July 6 after allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Boston’s Brayan Bello (13-7, 4.70 ERA) will try to win two consecutive starts for the first time since his last three victories before the All-Star break. Since those wins, Bello is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts.

Bello surpassed his winning record from last season on Monday when he allowed two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 12-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

The right-hander is 2-3 with a 2.66 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees, but this year New York has credited him with eight runs (seven earned) and 11 hits in 9 2/3 innings in two starts in Boston.

–Field level media