NEW YORK — Yankees fans have hoped to see this version of Aaron Judge, healthy and hacking his way toward a possible 60-homer season.
Matt Carpenter is a different matter. Signed off the scrap heap in May, the former St. Louis Cardinals slugger was a mighty large question mark.
"It's become an exclamation point," manager Aaron Boone said.
And now New York is one win away from punctuating a memorable first half with a series victory over its bitter division rival.
Judge homered twice to match Roger Maris' franchise record of 33 before the All-Star break, Carpenter also connected twice and drove in seven runs, and the Yankees throttled the Boston Red Sox 14-1 Saturday night.