Aaron Judge hits two home runs to give him 57 on the season as Yankees beat Red Sox

BOSTON – Seated near the visitor's dugout late Tuesday night, a patch of Yankees fans could now serenade Aaron Judge with "M-V-P'' chants without any backlash from Red Sox Nation.

Gleyber Torres delivered a three-run double in the 10th and Wandy Peralta saved the Yankees' 7-6 win, striking out Rafael Devers, representing the winning run.

Somehow, the Red Sox pitched to Judge until they didn't have to, finally walking him intentionally with a base open in the extra inning.

But once more, Judge had lifted his team toward a victory, on a night when manager Aaron Boone thought the club came out "a little flat'' after Monday's off day, on a dreary night weather-wise in the Back Bay.

Judge went deep twice at Fenway Park, with a pair of game-tying shots – Nos. 56 and 57 on the season – on his path toward the Yankees’ single season home run record, and the AL MVP.   

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As he chases Roger Maris’ franchise and AL record of 61 homers set in 1961, 23 of Judge’s homers have either tied the game or given the Yankees a lead.

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It's all part of the greatest free agent walk season of all time, though Judge is "perfect'' for the task, as Boone said, because his top priorities – being a leader and winning a title – haven't changed.

When that's the daily focus, "it keeps it simple,'' Boone said. "Just let the results happen.''

Aaron Judge is 'just amazing'

Other than that, Boone said he's "out of adjectives'' to described Judge's season, carrying a compromised Yankees lineup to the finish line.

"Just amazing what he's doing.''

Leading off the sixth inning, Judge lashed a first-pitch Nick Pivetta curveball over the right-center field wall, making it 3-3 against the last-place Red Sox.

Leading off the eighth against Garrett Whitlock, Judge blasted one well over the famous Green Monster, making it a 4-4 game after the Red Sox – once again – found ways to hurt Gerrit Cole with the long ball.

"I've got no idea, I try not to even think about it,'' Judge said of still seeing his share of pitches to hit in key at-bats. "I can't be thinking about whether guys are pitching to me or not pitching to me.

"In certain situations when I'm hitting, you can kind of see them pitching around you. But I've still got to stay locked in on my approach.''

To make it a complete day, the Rays and Blue Jays split a doubleheader at Toronto, putting the Yanks' AL East lead at six games with 20 remaining.

'One of the most historic offensive seasons of all-time'

Cole struck out 10 batters in six innings and kept his nemesis Devers in the park, but lefty-hitting rookie first baseman Triston Casas – who has the look of a burgeoning star – clubbed a two-run homer off Cole, who also yielded solo shots to Reese McGuire and Xander Bogaerts, just inside Pesky's pole in right.

"High level of execution on their part,'' said Cole, who now has a 5.87 ERA with 14 homers allowed in nine career Fenway Park starts, including last year's Wild Card game.

As for watching "one of the most historic offensive seasons of all time,'' Cole said he's just "very fortunate to play on the same team'' as Judge.

"Every time he hits a homer, he helps the team,'' said Torres, who delivered a two-out, three-run double off ex-Met Jeurys Familia in the 10th.

The way Torres sees it, Judge's success inspires better at-bats throughout a lineup missing Anthony Rizzo, Andrew Benintendi and Matt Carpenter due to injury, with only Rizzo being counted on to return (perhaps as early as this weekend).

Aaron Judge's Triple Crown chase

Fourth on the Yankees’ all-time list for homers in a single season, Judge's next target is Babe Ruth’s 59 homers in 1921.

But there's another potential jewel in sight: An American League Triple Crown.

Earlier in the game, Judge singled to extend his on-base streak to 14 straight games, and he's now batting .310, with Bogaerts leading the league at .318.

In Yankees history, only Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle have led the league in batting average, homers and RBI, and Judge is currently ahead this year in both homers and RBI (123).

"Some great guys have done it ... pretty special,'' Judge said. "But I think I'm a long way from that.''

"For me, grading hitters has always been about (a high) average,'' Judge said, referencing the high power-high average prime of Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera, the last AL Triple Crown winner.

During his answer, someone in the Yankees dugout shouted "M-V-P'' in Judge's direction.

"Just trying to put the team in a good spot to win a game,'' Judge said with smile.