NEW YORK, N.Y.
The Yankees played the Rockies on Tuesday night.
Aaron Judge returned after being hurt for weeks.
He struck out during his first at-bat back.
But the Yankees won, five to three.
Fans cheered loudly when Judge stepped onto the field.
New York's bullpen pitched well to seal the victory.
The team plays the Rockies again this week.
NEW YORK, N.Y.
The Yankees defeated the Colorado Rockies 5 to 3 on Tuesday.
Pitcher Gabriel Hughes faced off against Yankees ace Cam Schlittler.
Hughes struck out star slugger Aaron Judge during the game.
It was Judge's first game back after a long injury absence.
The Yankees bullpen held on late to secure the win.
New York improved its record to 81 wins and 62 losses.
Colorado fell to 55 wins and 88 losses this season.
The two teams play again later this week.
NEW YORK, N.Y.
The New York Yankees defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
The game featured a tense pitching duel between two very different starting rotations.
Right-hander Cam Schlittler, a serious contender for the American League Cy Young Award, started for New York.
He faced Rockies starter Gabriel Hughes in a closely contested matchup.
Both pitchers limited scoring opportunities through the early innings.
New York's offense finally broke through late to secure the victory.
The night's most significant storyline centered on Aaron Judge's return to the lineup.
Judge had missed nearly two months while recovering on the 60-day injured list.
He is widely regarded as one of baseball's most dominant power hitters.
His absence had weighed heavily on the Yankees during a critical stretch of the season.
In his first at-bat back, Judge struck out against Hughes.
The moment served as a reminder that even elite players need time to readjust after a long layoff.
Despite that early setback, his presence appeared to energize his teammates.
New York's bullpen, which has been reliable throughout September, closed out the final innings without trouble.
The win improved the Yankees' record to 81 wins and 62 losses, keeping them firmly in playoff contention.
Colorado fell to 55 wins and 88 losses, extending a difficult season.
The two teams will conclude their series on Wednesday, giving Judge another chance to find his timing.
Manager Aaron Boone said the team plans to ease Judge back into regular duty gradually.
With the season winding down, every remaining game carries extra weight for New York's playoff push.
Sources: Yahoo Sports (https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rockies-homer-yankees-2-1-022741431.html); MLBDB Box Score (https://www.mlbdb.com/score/new-york-yankees-vs-colorado-rockies-823500)
Published in Wednesday, September 9, 2026 edition.