Judge's Return Sparks Yankees Past Rockies, 5-3

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.